Details of a confidential 2013 meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and renowned entrepreneur Pavel Durov have been disclosed. According to journalist Nikolay Kononov's recently published book, "The Durov Code 2," the head of state openly suggested that Durov leave Russia back when he was still at the helm of VKontakte.
An unexpected introduction at the Kremlin
In 2013, when Durov was considered the king of Russia's social media market, a reception involving major entrepreneurs took place at the Kremlin. During the event, Alisher Usmanov, the principal shareholder of VKontakte, introduced the young developer to the President. However, the conversation did not unfold as Durov had expected.
- Putin's objection: The President raised concerns about illegal content and pornography on the platform, emphasizing that such "hidden entertainments" were unnecessary for Russia.
- The Israel option: Putin suggested repeatedly: "If you want to pursue such a business, run it in Israel."
An enthusiasm that "melted like last year's snow"
The discussion marked a turning point for Durov. Although he had dreamed of showcasing the potential of Russia's programming schools to the world, his enthusiasm for staying in the country "melted like last year's snow."
"After that meeting, I realized I needed to move everything out of the country—not just to sell my projects but also to avoid ending up behind bars," Durov states in the book.
Leaving Russia and mysterious visits
In 2014, Durov completely sold his shares in VKontakte, left Russia, and focused his efforts on the Telegram project.
- Official statement: In recent interviews, Durov claimed that he has not been in Russia for over 10 years.
- Journalistic investigation: Based on leaked data, the publication "Important Stories" concluded that Durov had visited Russia at least 50 times after 2014.
Putin's recollection
In 2024, Vladimir Putin also reflected on this meeting. According to him, he only met Durov once, during which the entrepreneur merely shared his plans. The President described it as just one of many routine meetings with business representatives.
Today, while Telegram has become one of the most powerful messaging platforms in the world, this mysterious encounter sheds light on its history.
What do you think—if Durov had stayed in Russia, would the Telegram project have achieved the same level of success?
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