Telegram founder Pavel Durov has officially left France and relocated to Dubai after receiving court approval, marking a major turn in his ongoing legal saga.

According to reports from Barron’s, a French court granted Durov permission to depart on March 13. His destination, Dubai, is known for its business-friendly regulations and lack of extradition agreements with several nations. While the exact terms of the court's decision remain unclear, Durov’s departure has ignited fresh debates over tech leaders' responsibilities in policing their platforms.

French authorities initially arrested Durov at Le Bourget airport in Paris on August 24, 2024, with prosecutors later accusing him of facilitating illegal activities through Telegram. The charges, announced on August 28, carried a potential 10-year prison sentence and a fine of €500,000 ($550,000). Durov was released on bail for $6 million but was required to remain in France until further notice.

Durov’s sudden exit from France has triggered speculation that he may have reached a legal resolution or secured temporary travel permission while his case continues. However, neither Durov nor French officials have publicly commented on the matter.

The crypto market reacted swiftly to the news, with Toncoin (TON), the native token of The Open Network (TON), surging over 18% in value, as reported by Cointelegraph Markets Pro and TradingView.

This latest development follows another high-profile case involving Russian programmers. Alexander Vinnik, the former operator of the now-defunct BTC-e crypto exchange, was recently released from U.S. custody as part of a prisoner swap between the U.S. and Russia.

Durov’s legal troubles highlight the growing scrutiny tech leaders face over their platforms’ operations, particularly as governments worldwide grapple with the influence of encrypted messaging services like Telegram.