Telegram CEO Pavel Durov's Connection to Paris and His Family's Plans Revealed

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In 2018, Pavel Durov, the founder and CEO of Telegram, was not only making strides in the tech world but also considering a significant move for his family. According to Irina Bolgar, Durov’s former partner and mother of his three children, Durov agreed to rent a house for his family in Neuilly-sur-Seine, an upscale suburb of Paris. This coincided with a notable meeting between Durov and French President Emmanuel Macron, during which they discussed potential French citizenship for Durov as Macron sought to attract tech entrepreneurs to France.

Bolgar revealed that she signed an agreement for a €105,000-per-month home, intending to settle there with their children. The couple, who had been together since 2013, maintained family ties until 2022, despite Durov’s relocation to the United Arab Emirates and the challenges of recognizing their children, born out of wedlock, in that country.

Though Durov never intended to live full-time in the Parisian house, he planned to visit his family there. However, Bolgar later changed her mind, canceling the agreement and eventually settling in Geneva. Despite the change of plans, the couple continued to meet in Paris, often staying at luxury hotels like the Ritz, and even discussed purchasing homes worth up to €100 million in both Geneva and Paris.

Durov’s connection to France came under a different light when he was arrested near Paris on August 24, 2024, facing charges related to illicit activities on Telegram. Now banned from leaving France and required to check in with Parisian police twice a week, Durov’s legal troubles have complicated his ties to the country.

The couple’s relationship officially ended in 2022, with legal proceedings ongoing in Switzerland. French authorities have reportedly contacted Switzerland regarding allegations linked to these proceedings.

As Durov’s legal situation unfolds, his family’s history with France and his once-ambitious plans to settle there are now part of a broader narrative involving his personal and professional challenges.