Thomas Daniels
Telegram founder Pavel Durov has secured judicial approval to temporarily leave France for a 14-day business trip to Dubai, home to his company’s global headquarters, before resuming his legal obligations in France.
The court ruling permits Durov’s departure on July 10, following a travel request that was previously denied by French authorities in May, as reported by Le Monde. Earlier, Durov sought permission to attend the Oslo Freedom Forum, organized by the Human Rights Foundation, to deliver a keynote address. That request was blocked; his presentation was instead delivered remotely.
This is not the first time Durov has gained temporary release. In March and early April, the court granted similar travel permissions, enabling him to return to Dubai. The development was celebrated by The Open Network Society (TON), which framed it as a victory for freedom of expression.
Durov has since traveled across Europe to illuminate the contours of his ongoing legal dispute within the EU. His movements have drawn the interest of civil‑liberties advocates, privacy proponents, and the cryptocurrency community, all of whom view his case as emblematic of individual rights and regulatory limitations in Western democracies.
In a recent interview with Le Point, Durov sharply criticized the French government and President Emmanuel Macron, asserting that misguided governance is eroding France’s strength. “I’m very disappointed. France is getting weaker and weaker,” he remarked, contending that overregulation and pro‑censorship measures are prompting a brain drain toward more innovation‑friendly regions.
Durov cautioned that postponing critical reforms risks societal decline. He warned that once state-engineered social dynamics take root across generations, reversing the damage could take decades.
