**Telegram Founder Returns to Dubai Amid Ongoing Investigation**
Pavel Durov, the Russian-born founder and CEO of Telegram, has returned to Dubai after spending several months in France. Durov made the announcement on his personal Telegram channel, saying that he was “great” to be home despite an ongoing investigation into criminal activity on the messaging app.
**French Investigation Continues**
Durov was arrested at a Paris airport last August and faces numerous charges related to allowing terrorism, drug trafficking, fraud, money laundering, and child abuse content on Telegram. The founder of the messaging app could face up to 20 years in prison if found guilty.
**Judges Allow Temporary Leave**
The investigating judges allowed Durov to temporarily leave France for several weeks. He left the country on March 15, just two days before making his announcement on Telegram.
**Telegram’s Global Reach**
Telegram is one of the world’s top messaging apps, with over 950 million users worldwide. The company was founded by Durov in 2013 and has become a popular platform for communication and news sharing.
**Durov’s Background**
Durov left Russia in 2014 after refusing to comply with government demands to shut down opposition communities on his VK social media platform. He subsequently sold the platform and now holds French, Emirati, and Russian citizenship. Despite claims of being an exile, a recent investigation revealed that Durov had visited Russia more than 60 times since 2014.
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