Update March 17, 1 pm UTC: This article has been updated to add information about the judicial suspension.
Telegram founder Pavel Durov said the company had always met and “exceeded” its legal obligations in moderation, cooperation and fighting crime.
On March 17, the Telegram founder posted an update on the messaging application, saying he was already back in Dubai after spending months in France. Durov said the process is still ongoing but added that it “feels great to be home.”
Media platform TASS reported that French authorities have “suspended judicial control obligations” of Durov for three weeks. Citing sources in the French prosecutor’s office, media outlet TASS reported that the agency said judicial control in relation to Durov was suspended from March 15 to April 7.
Judicial control suspension means that court hearings or legal proceedings involving Durov will be delayed temporarily. It also pauses the potential enforcement of court decisions and suspends legal restrictions on the executive. The Telegram founder will likely be required to come back to France after the pause.
Telegram founder says company “exceeded” legal obligations
The post follows reports that the Telegram founder was allowed to leave France and return home. On March 15, a report citing anonymous sources said the executive had departed from France after getting approval from a French court to leave the country.
Durov was arrested in Paris on Aug. 24 as part of an investigation into the instant messaging app. The executive was accused of running a platform that allowed illegal activities.
Pavel Durov shared a post on Telegram after returning to Dubai. Source: Pavel Durov
In his post, Durov thanked the judges for allowing him to return to Dubai. The executive also expressed gratitude toward his lawyers and team, saying that they could show that the company had surpassed what was legally required of them. He wrote:
“I want to thank the investigative judges for letting this happen, as well as my lawyers and team for their relentless efforts in demonstrating that, when it comes to moderation, cooperation, and fighting crime, for years, Telegram not only met but exceeded its legal obligations.”
Durov also thanked his supporters across the globe. He said he was grateful for the community’s support throughout the ordeal. “There is nothing our billion-strong community can’t overcome,” Durov added.
Related: Free speech and online privacy: Pavel Durov’s rise to the top
Telegram founder’s return to Dubai fuels Toncoin rally
Durov’s release fueled a rally for Toncoin, the native crypto asset of The Open Network (TON), a project heavily associated with Telegram. On March 15, Toncoin surged from $2.93 to $3.46, reaching a seven-day high of $3.59 on March 17. At the time of writing, the crypto asset is trading at $3.41, according to CoinGecko.
TON Society, a grassroots movement supporting the TON blockchain, celebrated Durov’s release. The group said they’ve stood behind the executive since his arrest, praising the Telegram founder’s “commitment to freedom of speech and transparency.”
The group previously wrote an open letter to French authorities, urging them to release the Telegram founder.
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