Telegram founder Pavel Durov has been barred from traveling to Norway to attend the Oslo Freedom Forum, following a ruling by a French court that denied his travel request. The Human Rights Foundation (HRF), organizer of the forum, confirmed that Durov will instead deliver his keynote speech remotely.
“It is unfortunate that French courts would block Mr. Durov from participating in an event where his voice is so needed,” said Thor Halvorssen, founder of the HRF.
France Tightens Restrictions Amid Criminal Charges
Durov, who faces six criminal charges in France stemming from a September 2024 arrest at a French airport, remains under strict legal supervision. Despite holding dual citizenships (France and UAE), he cannot leave the country without prior court approval.
While previously allowed to travel to Dubai, French authorities denied Durov’s requests to visit the U.S. for investment meetings and to attend the Oslo forum, stating the trips were “non-essential.”
Durov Accuses France of Censorship Pressure
Tensions flared after Durov accused French intelligence officials of pressuring him to censor conservative voices on Telegram. In a post on May 18, Durov alleged that Nicolas Lerner, director of France’s DGSI, urged him to suppress right-wing political content ahead of Romania’s presidential elections.
“You can’t ‘defend democracy’ by destroying democracy,” Durov wrote, declaring that Telegram will not engage in political censorship, even if it means leaving entire markets.
He emphasized Telegram’s history of supporting free expression, citing its refusal to block dissidents in Russia, Belarus, and Iran.
Telegram Tackles Massive $35B Crime Network
Meanwhile, Telegram has removed thousands of channels linked to Chinese-language cybercrime rings, following a report from blockchain analytics firm Elliptic.
The investigation uncovered two major networks:
- Huione Guarantee (linked to Cambodian elites) – facilitated $27 billion in illegal USDT transactions.
- Xinbi Guarantee – tied to $8.4 billion in crypto laundering and cyber scams.
These Telegram-hosted operations offered services like money laundering, fake documents, identity theft, and laundering proceeds from high-profile hacks and “pig butchering” scams.
Some channels were connected to human trafficking compounds in Southeast Asia, where victims were forced to operate cyber fraud rings under duress, disguised as employment opportunities.
Durov to Deliver Remote Keynote on State Pressure and Tech Freedom
Durov’s keynote at the Oslo Freedom Forum is expected to focus on the growing pressure on tech platforms to comply with government censorship, especially during election cycles.As Telegram balances its privacy-first mission with increasing scrutiny over its role in enabling criminal networks, Durov’s legal battle in France and the broader ethical debate around encrypted platforms will remain closely watched.
