Pavel Durov’s Frequent Russian Visits Revealed Amid French Arrest

Pavel Durov’s Russian Travel Habits Under Scrutiny Following French Arrest

Pavel Durov, the co-founder and CEO of Telegram, reportedly entered Russia more than 50 times between 2015 and 2021, according to a report published on August 27 by Important Stories, an independent Russian-language news outlet. The report draws from leaked data provided by the Federal Security Service of Russia (FSB), the country’s primary intelligence agency. Cointelegraph has not independently verified these claims, and Telegram has yet to respond to Cointelegraph’s request for comment.

Leaked Data and Verification

The leaked data, which surfaced no later than August 20, was reportedly hidden again by August 26. Important Stories verified the data, in part, by consulting an investigator linked to Alexei Navalny, the former Russian opposition leader who died in prison in February. The data indicates that Durov made frequent trips between St. Petersburg, Russia, and various European cities using commercial Aeroflot flights, and traveled from Russia to Helsinki, Finland, via Russian Railways trains.

Durov’s Travels and Public Statements

Pavel Durov, a Russian national who co-founded the Russian social network VKontakte in 2006, publicly left Russia in April 2014. This move followed his refusal to comply with an FSB request to disclose personal data of Ukrainian protesters, leading to his resignation as CEO of VKontakte and the sale of his 12% stake to Ivan Tavrin, CEO of MegaFon.

Despite his departure, Durov’s only publicly acknowledged visit to Russia since 2014 occurred in the fall of that year when he returned briefly to sell his data center, ICVA. According to Important Stories, Durov traveled to Russia repeatedly between 2015 and 2017, and again between 2020 and 2021. Notably, he did not travel to Russia from 2018 to 2020.

In an April interview with Tucker Carlson, Durov stated that he avoids traveling to locations that conflict with Telegram’s values, including Russia. “I travel to places where I have confidence that those places are consistent with what we do and our values. I don’t go to any of the big geopolitical powers, countries like China or Russia or even the US,” Durov told Carlson.

Telegram’s Ban and Recent Developments

In 2018, the Russian government imposed a ban on Telegram, citing the application’s refusal to grant state agencies access to users’ encrypted messages. This ban was lifted in 2020.

Pavel Durov was arrested in France on August 24, 2024. French authorities have accused him of failing to adequately moderate illegal activities on Telegram, including drug trafficking, fraud, and organized crime. This arrest follows his recent legal and geopolitical controversies, highlighting ongoing tensions between Durov, Telegram, and various state authorities.

This article provides a comprehensive overview of Pavel Durov’s movements and recent legal troubles, reflecting the complex intersection of technology, privacy, and international law.

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