Telegram founder Pavel Durov claims French intelligence attempted to censor conservative viewpoints on the platform during the Romanian election season.
Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova has accused French President Emmanuel Macron of arresting Telegram’s Pavel Durov to manipulate the Romanian elections.
This accusation follows Durov’s statement that French authorities questioned him about the matter.
“Zakharova stated on Telegram that Macron’s alleged arrest of Durov was not for internal issues related to the messenger, but to sway the Romanian elections, knowing the liberal candidate couldn’t win fairly.”
Durov stated on Saturday, citing Romanian journalist Marius Tuca, that Nicolas Lerner, head of France’s foreign intelligence agency, DGSE, visited Romania just two days before the election.
Earlier in June, Durov claimed that Lerner requested he censor conservative voices on Telegram during the Romanian election campaign. The DGSE has denied these claims. Durov then accused French authorities of diverting attention by linking him to unrelated criminal investigations involving Telegram users.
Durov was arrested in France last August and charged as an accessory to crimes allegedly committed by Telegram users. He was later released on €5 million ($5.46 million) bail in mid-March and permitted to leave the country.
Romania’s Constitutional Court previously annulled the initial round of the November 2024 presidential election, citing Russian interference that supposedly helped independent right-wing candidate Calin Georgescu gain an unexpected lead. Georgescu was then barred from the re-run.
Last Sunday, conservative EU critic George Simion narrowly lost a run-off election to pro-Brussels Bucharest Mayor Nicusor Dan. Simion contested the results on Tuesday, alleging “external interference by state and non-state actors,” but the Constitutional Court unanimously dismissed his petition.
Following Simion’s petition, Durov offered to testify before Romanian authorities regarding his interactions with French officials, stating he would do so “if it helps Romanian democracy.”
Before the second round of voting, Romania’s Foreign Ministry alleged Russian interference in the election. The Kremlin dismissed these claims as absurd, calling the process a mess and questioning its legitimacy.
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