France Denies Telegram Founder Durov's Request to Visit US – Politico
French authorities rejected a request from Telegram founder and Russian-born entrepreneur Pavel Durov to visit the United States, Politico reported Tuesday, citing the Paris prosecutor's office.
“Such a trip abroad did not appear imperative or justified,” the office was quoted as saying.
Durov, who was banned from leaving France last year after being indicted on multiple charges linked to alleged illicit activity on Telegram , reportedly sought to visit the US for “negotiations with investment funds.”
The Paris prosecutor's office told Politico that it denied the entrepreneur's request on May 12. Authorities had allowed Durov to travel to Dubai earlier this year.
Durov, who now holds citizenship in France and the United Arab Emirates, was arrested in Paris last year after being accused of failing to curb extremist and terrorist content on Telegram.
The Russian-born entrepreneur was released on bail but prohibited from leaving the country. In addition to the travel ban, he was expected to post 5 million euros in bail and report to police twice a week.
Since his arrest, Durov has voiced criticism against the French government.
On Sunday, he claimed that authorities in Paris sought to censor conservative political voices in Romania ahead of its presidential election. France's Foreign Ministry denied the accusation.
Telegram reported more than 1 billion monthly active users in March.
A Message from The Moscow Times:
Dear readers,
We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."
These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.
We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help .
Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $ 2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.
By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.
themoscowtimes
