Since 2014, it's often suggested that Telegram's mastermind, Pavel Durov, has undergone numerous trips back to his native Russia. However, this notion isn't entirely accurate. After clashing with the Russian administration and deciding against returning, Durov did indeed visit Russia several times, but allegedly less than 60 as claimed.
In 2014, Durov, the creator of Telegram and the co-founder of VKontakte, parted ways with Russia due to disagreements with the authorities. He renounced his Russian citizenship and declared that he had no intention of returning. By acquiring French and UAE citizenship and relocating Telegram's headquarters from St. Petersburg to Dubai, Durov sought to emphasize his independence from Russia.
Yet, mimicking a stark U-turn, Durov became a frequent visitor to his homeland in the following years. Reports from Russian and Ukrainian media suggest that he broke his own promise, with "Important Stories" and "Ukrajinska Prawda" both conveying that he visited Russia more than 50 times by 2021. Both sources cite the same evidence: a substantial data leak from the Russian domestic intelligence service, FSB, which encompasses border control data.
The period between 2017 and 2020 marked a notable gap in Durov's visits. It was speculated that this lull was caused by failed attempts to acquire or block Telegram by the Kremlin. Following their unsuccessful endeavors in June 2020, Durov purportedly resumed his regular visits to Russia.
In a 2017 Telegram post, Durov mentioned the well-being of his parents, who still resided in Russia, as the reason for his occasional visits, calling it a 'small price' to pay for the stakes involved with Telegram. However, the intricacies of his activities during these trips and any meetings with Russian leadership or security forces remain shrouded in mystery.
While the data suggests that Durov did visit Russia several times since his departure, there is no concrete evidence to support the claim that it exceeded 50 visits by 2021, as reported. Furthermore, Durov's self-portrayal as a disassociated entrepreneur since 2014 raises several questions despite his many visits to Russia.
References:
[1] Dreijer, S. (2021, June 15). Who is Pavel Durov, Telegram’s privacy-focused founder? Retrieved from
[4] Troendle, A. (2015, March 19). Pavel Durov And Telegram: What's Really Going On? Retrieved from
