Paris did not allow Pavel Durov to travel to the USA

The French authorities have denied permission for Telegram founder Pavel Durov to travel to the United States. Politico reported this, citing a statement by the Paris prosecutor's office. It is noted that the decision was made on May 12, and the justification given was "the absence of sufficient and necessary grounds for such a trip."

Earlier, Durov announced he was planning this trip to the United States to hold negotiations with American investment funds. However, the French government officially blocked his departure.

Following this event, another serious accusation arose. On May 18, Pavel Durov stated on Telegram that the head of French foreign intelligence (DGSE), Nicolas Lerner, personally invited him to a meeting at the Hotel de Crillon in Paris. According to Durov, Lerner asked him via Telegram to "silence the voices of conservatives" before the Romanian elections. Durov stated that he rejected this request.

The French authorities categorically deny these allegations. Representatives of the DGSE emphasized in an official statement that they only discussed terrorism-related and child pornography content spread through the messenger with Durov. According to them, there were no discussions about influencing elections or censorship during the meetings.

Currently, Pavel Durov remains in France under judicial supervision. He is not allowed to leave the country without permission from the authorities. Earlier, in the spring of 2025, the French government had temporarily allowed him to travel to Dubai.

For reference, Pavel Durov was detained in Paris in August 2024. He was charged with refusing to block terrorism propaganda and child-prohibited content on the Telegram platform. Law enforcement authorities assert that the messenger administration systematically ignored state demands.

Zamin.uz editorial will continue to closely monitor developments surrounding Telegram and Pavel Durov. In your opinion, which side is right in this situation? Are these events a threat to messenger freedom or driven by security needs? Read 'Zamin' on Telegram!