When Telegram founder Pavel Durov speaks out about a Western intelligence agency allegedly attempting to interfere in elections in Eastern Europe, it does not go unnoticed — especially given the West's persistent criticism of authoritarian regimes for similar behavior.
But if Durov’s claims prove to be true, they would not only cast doubt on the legitimacy of Romania’s elections, but also on France’s commitment to its own democratic principles.
Durov and French Intelligence
"This spring, at the Salon des Batailles in Paris’s Hôtel de Crillon, the head of French intelligence, Nicolas Lerner, asked me to block conservative voices in Romania ahead of the elections. I refused. We didn’t block protesters in Russia, Belarus or Iran — and we won’t start doing so in Europe," Pavel Durov wrote on X on May 20.
This was not his first reference to such requests: he had previously mentioned that a Western European country had tried to pressure Telegram into imposing censorship ahead of the Romanian elections. Following a response from France’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs — which called the claim false — it became clear that Durov was referring to France.
Durov also stated that he is willing to travel to Romania and give official testimony if it would help protect democracy in the country.
Romania Faces New Calls to Annul Elections
Meanwhile, George Simion, leader of the Alliance for the Union of Romanians (AUR), has called on the Constitutional Court to annul the results of the May 2025 presidential election. Simion lost in the final round to independent candidate Nicușor Dan. He now claims to possess evidence of external interference — involving both state and non-state actors.
"Neither France, nor Moldova, nor anyone else has the right to meddle in another country’s elections," he wrote. According to Simion, the situation echoes December 2024, when the Constitutional Court annulled the first round of the presidential vote, citing suspected Russian interference — but without publishing any evidence.
What This Could Mean for France
If Durov’s claims are confirmed, the implications would be unprecedented. Until now, France — alongside other EU nations — has positioned itself as a vocal critic of election interference by authoritarian regimes. Paris has actively promoted initiatives on digital sovereignty, combating disinformation, and resisting foreign meddling. But accusations against French intelligence — especially coming from a tech platform owner with hundreds of millions of users — raise serious questions about France’s credibility as a defender of democratic norms.
Durov has emphasized that his platform has refused to bow to pressure in Russia, Belarus, or Iran — and for that reason, he saw no justification to make an exception for France. In recent years, Telegram has become a critical channel for political mobilization and independent media, particularly in countries with fragile democratic institutions. Any attempt to block political actors, even under the pretext of countering extremism, risks being seen as electoral interference.
The Stakes for Europe
This story is a litmus test for the entire European Union. If the allegations gain traction, they could undermine trust not only in Romania’s institutions but in France’s as well. And if Telegram provides evidence, European officials may find themselves answering not only to Romanian voters — but to their own citizens.