Durov announced his return to Dubai and the ongoing investigation in France.

The founder of the Telegram messenger, businessman Pavel Durov, confirmed on March 17 that he had returned to Dubai from France. According to him, the investigation related to the activity of criminals in Telegram is ongoing.

"As you may have heard, I returned to Dubai after spending several months in France in connection with an investigation related to the activities of criminals on Telegram. The process continues, but I am very pleased to return home to the UAE," he wrote on his Telegram channel.

He also thanked people for their support, stressing that it means a lot to him.

On the evening of August 24, 2024, Durov was detained at Le Bourget airport in Paris. He was charged with a number of crimes, including drug distribution, crimes against children, money laundering and fraud.

On August 26, he was released from custody on his own recognizance and bail in the amount of €5 million. During the investigation, the court seized his passports and ordered him to live in Paris at a specific address. On September 6, the French prosecutor's office informed Izvestia that the businessman would be able to seek changes in the rules of his judicial control and their mitigation. Paris Prosecutor Laure Becco, in turn, noted that the businessman's case is significant in the field of combating cybercrime.

On September 20, Le Figaro newspaper reported that Durov had agreed to cooperate with the investigation in France. This provoked requests for information from several States at once. On December 6, Europe1 radio station reported on Durov's first interrogation in a Paris court on the merits. It was clarified that the businessman confessed to trusting the French justice system, but declined to comment further.

The France-Presse news agency reported on March 15 that Durov had left France and traveled to Dubai with court approval. According to the agency's source, the businessman was allowed to leave France for several weeks.