According to ChainCatcher, the Russian-language independent news agency "Important Stories" reported that Telegram co-founder and CEO Pavel Durov entered Russia more than 50 times between 2015 and 2021. The report cited data about Durov's whereabouts leaked by Russia's main intelligence agency, the Russian Federal Security Service (FSB). The data was reportedly leaked around August 20 and hidden again on August 26. Important Stories said it partially verified the data by talking to investigators under Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny.
Durov made no attempt to conceal his travels, having taken commercial Russian airline flights between St. Petersburg, Russia, and cities across Europe, and also traveled from Russia to Helsinki, Finland, on Russian Railways trains.
Earlier news, Durov was arrested in France on August 24. He was accused of failing to adequately regulate illegal activities on the communication platform, which French authorities claimed was used for drug trafficking, fraud and organized crime.
