Pavel Durov, co-founder and CEO of Telegram, reportedly made over 50 visits to Russia between 2015 and 2021, according to a report by the independent news outlet Important Stories. The report is based on data leaked from Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB) and was disclosed on August 27. This revelation raises questions about Durov’s movements, given his public stance against the Russian government’s policies.
Allegations Against Durov Surface
The leaked data, which was briefly available from August 20 to August 26, has been partially verified by a researcher linked to Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny. Durov’s travel details include frequent flights between Russia, St. Petersburg, and various European cities on Aeroflot, as well as train journeys from Russia to Helsinki, Finland. Despite his claims of not visiting Russia, the data suggests otherwise.
Durov, who founded the Russian social network VKontakte in 2006, resigned as its CEO in 2014 after refusing an FSB request to disclose personal data of Ukrainian protesters. He subsequently sold his stake in the company and left Russia in April 2014, only returning briefly in the fall of 2014 to sell a data center.
Details on the Matter
According to Important Stories, Durov visited Russia multiple times between 2015 and 2017 and then again between 2020 and 2021. He did not visit Russia between 2018 and 2020. In an April interview with Tucker Carlson, Durov stated that he avoids traveling to major geopolitical powers like Russia, China, and the USA to align with Telegram’s values. This claim contradicts the leaked data.
In 2018, Russia banned Telegram for refusing to grant state agencies access to encrypted user messages. This ban was lifted in 2020. More recently, Durov was arrested in France on August 24, with French authorities accusing him of failing to monitor illegal activities on Telegram, which they claim facilitated fraud and organized crime.
Insights for Users
- CEO’s movements can contradict public statements, impacting trust.
- Encrypted messaging apps like Telegram face significant regulatory challenges.
- Political implications can influence tech company operations and leadership decisions.
These insights highlight the complexities and risks involved in the operations of tech companies under geopolitical pressures.
