Telegram chief Pavel Durov departs France temporarily

PARIS: The Russian-born founder of messaging app Telegram Pavel Durov on Monday said it was 'great to be home' after he was allowed to temporarily return to Dubai from France despite being investigated over illegal content on the popular messaging app.

Durov, 40, was arrested in France last year, held for several days and charged over illegal content that was being posted on Telegram by users. He was released but not allowed to leave the country.

But he returned at the weekend after receiving permission from the investigating magistrates in charge of the case to leave France.

"As you may have heard, I've returned after spending several months in France due to an investigation related to the activity of criminals on Telegram," Durov wrote in a post on Telegram.

"The process is ongoing," he said.

He thanked the investigative judges "for letting this happen", while adding that "for years Telegram not only met but exceeded its legal obligations".

Durov was able to leave France after the investigating judges - for a period of March 15 to April 7 - relieved him of his obligations under the measures of judicial control that had been imposed on him after he was released last year, the office of the Paris prosecutor told AFP on Monday.