12 hours ago
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TLDR
- Pavel Durov refused a request from French intelligence to censor conservative political content on Telegram ahead of Romanian elections
- Durov initially hinted at France with a baguette emoji before explicitly naming the country
- Nicusor Dan defeated right-wing nationalist George Simion to become Romania’s president
- France denied allegations of election interference as “completely unfounded”
- Durov gained prominence in the crypto community after his arrest in France in August 2024
Pavel Durov, founder of the messaging platform Telegram, revealed he refused a request from French intelligence to censor conservative political content ahead of Romania’s presidential election. The revelation came in a Telegram post on May 18, just one day before Romanian voters went to the polls.
In his post, Durov initially did not name the Western European country that made the censorship request. Instead, he hinted at France with a baguette emoji.
“Telegram will not restrict the freedoms of Romanian users or block their political channels,”Durov wrote firmly.
The situation unfolded as Romania prepared for its presidential election. The vote resulted in Nicusor Dan, a mathematician and liberal mayor of Bucharest, defeating right-wing nationalist opponent George Simion.
France quickly denied any improper involvement. In response to a BBC report, French officials claimed the allegations of election interference were “completely unfounded.”
Durov Names French Intelligence Chief
Following France’s denial, Durov decided to provide specific details. In a post on X (formerly Twitter), he named Nicolas Lerner, head of French intelligence, as the person who made the request.
Durov stated that he met with Lerner at the Salon des Batailles in the Hôtel de Crillon. During this meeting, Lerner allegedly asked him to “ban” conservative political content on Telegram ahead of the Romanian elections.
“You can’t ‘defend democracy’ by destroying democracy. You can’t ‘fight election interference’ by interfering with elections,” Durov wrote. “You either have freedom of speech and fair elections — or you don’t.”
Durov emphasized that Telegram had not censored content for protesters in Russia, Belarus, or Iran. He stated firmly that the platform “won’t start doing it in Europe.”
After Dan’s victory in Romania, French Prime Minister Emmanuel Macron congratulated the new president on X. Macron wrote that “despite numerous attempts at manipulation, Romanians tonight chose democracy, the rule of law, and the European Union.”
This statement did not directly address Durov’s claims about French attempts to influence the election.
Durov’s Standing in Crypto Community
The Telegram founder has become a respected figure in the cryptocurrency community. Many crypto enthusiasts value his stance on free speech, privacy, and individual liberties.
His profile rose further after French authorities arrested him in August 2024. French prosecutors charged Durov with being complicit in facilitating crimes like child pornography and drug trafficking through Telegram.
The crypto community rallied behind Durov after his arrest. Many condemned the French government in an open letter, accusing officials of violating human rights.
Durov was granted bail of €5 million and placed under judicial supervision following his arrest. In March 2025, a French court modified his bail conditions, allowing him several weeks to visit Dubai.
Throughout these legal challenges, Durov has maintained that Telegram complies with lawful information requests from law enforcement. He has stated that the company has a legal representative in France who handles such requests.
Durov criticized the French government for bypassing this legal representative and choosing to issue an arrest warrant instead. This approach has strengthened his support among free speech advocates worldwide.
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