Telegram founder Pavel Durov has accused the head of France’s intelligence service of attempting to interfere in Romania’s democratic process by requesting a ban on conservative voices on the messaging platform ahead of the country’s national elections.
In a post shared on X (formerly Twitter) late Sunday, Durov stated that Nicolas Lerner, director of France’s intelligence agency, approached him earlier in the spring with the request during a meeting at the Salon des Batailles in the Hôtel de Crillon, Paris.
“This spring at the Salon des Batailles in the Hôtel de Crillon, Nicolas Lerner, head of French intelligence, asked me to ban conservative voices in Romania ahead of elections. I refused,” Durov wrote.
“We didn’t block protesters in Russia, Belarus, or Iran. We won’t start doing it in Europe.”
His claims come just hours after Romania’s presidential election delivered a surprise result, with Bucharest’s centrist mayor, Nicușor Dan, defeating a hard-right nationalist opponent who had campaigned on a platform inspired by former US President Donald Trump.
Earlier in the day, Durov had alluded to alleged French interference in a cryptic Telegram post that included a baguette emoji—widely interpreted as a reference to France—but without naming the country directly.
In response, the French foreign ministry issued a strong denial, labelling Durov’s allegations as baseless.
“France categorically rejects these allegations and calls on everyone to exercise responsibility and respect for Romanian democracy,” the ministry said.
The incident underscores rising tensions over online platforms’ role in political discourse and election integrity, especially in the lead-up to sensitive votes in Europe and elsewhere. Telegram, known for its encrypted messaging and limited moderation policies, has frequently found itself at the centre of debates around free speech and state influence.
As of now, no further comment has been made by the Romanian government or electoral authorities regarding the claims.
Melissa Enoch
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