Telegram Rejects Request To Censor Romanian Political Channels Before Presidential Vote
Telegram founder Pavel Durov has revealed he turned down pressure from a Western European government to censor conservative political voices in Romania ahead of the country’s presidential election run-off on 18 May.
In a message posted on both his X account and Telegram channel, Durov stated that the request aimed to silence certain groups ahead of the vote.
Without naming the country, he included a baguette emoji in his message — widely interpreted as a hint towards France.
“You Can’t Defend Democracy By Destroying Democracy”
Durov wrote on 18 May,
“A Western European government (guess which 🥖) approached Telegram asking us to silence conservative voices in Romania ahead of today’s presidential elections. I flatly refused. Telegram will not restrict the freedoms of Romanian users or block their political channels.”
He continued,
“You can’t “defend democracy” by destroying democracy. You can’t “fight election interference” by interfering with elections. You either have freedom of speech and fair elections — or you don’t. And the Romanian people deserve both.”
Telegram, widely used for political communication and grassroots organising in Eastern Europe, has often been criticised by Western governments for its minimal moderation practices.
France Denies Any Role In Romanian Election Censorship Request
Responding to the backlash, France’s Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs rejected the allegations circulating on social media.
The ministry posted on X,
“Completely unfounded allegations are circulating on Telegram and Twitter regarding alleged French interference in the Romanian presidential election.
France categorically rejects these allegations and calls on everyone to exercise responsibility and respect for Romanian democracy.”
Durov later disclosed that Nicolas Lerner, head of France’s foreign intelligence agency, personally made the censorship request.
This has not been independently confirmed, and the French government has not responded to that specific claim.
Background To A Heated Election
The Romanian vote came nearly six months after the first round of the election was cancelled due to accusations of Russian interference.
Moscow denied any involvement, but the controversy led to far-right candidate Calin Georgescu being banned from re-entering the race.
The 18 May run-off saw pro-European centrist Nicușor Dan defeat hard-right challenger George Simion.
The outcome is expected to impact both Romania’s fragile economy and its alignment within the European Union.
Durov’s Arrest In France Adds Fuel To The Tensions
The latest revelations follow Durov’s controversial arrest in France in August 2024.
He was detained during an investigation into alleged links between Telegram and crimes involving child pornography, drug trafficking, and financial fraud.
Durov denied any wrongdoing and was released, later returning to Dubai in March 2025.
Critics, including tech and crypto leaders, claimed the arrest was politically motivated.
Helius Labs CEO Mert Mumtaz in response to French President Emmanuel Macron’s comments defending the arrest wrote,
“You can't keep founders personally liable, and charge them up to 20 years, for not moderating speech, and at the same time claim you are deeply committed to freedom of expression.”
Other Tech Leaders Also Targeted
Shortly after Durov’s detention, Rumble CEO Chris Pavlovski reported leaving the EU due to threats from French authorities against his video platform, which also promotes free speech policies.
“I’ve just safely departed from Europe. France has threatened Rumble, and now they have crossed a red line by arresting Telegram’s CEO, Pavel Durov, reportedly for not censoring speech.”
Pavlovski added with his stance,
“Rumble will not stand for this behavior and will use every legal means available to fight for freedom of expression, a universal human right. We are currently fighting in the courts of France.”
Despite mounting pressure, Durov insisted Telegram continues to work with law enforcement when legally required and maintains a representative in France to process official requests.
He criticised the French government for bypassing this legal route and issuing an arrest warrant instead.
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