It is alleged by Durov that authorities exploited his legal troubles to suppress opposition voices ahead of Moldova’s parliamentary vote.
According to Telegram founder Pavel Durov, French intelligence previously exploited his legal troubles to censor opposition voices in Moldova’s presidential elections last year. This pointed to a broader action by governments on digital privacy.
In a Sunday statement posted to Telegram and X, it was said by Durov that French intelligence had contacted him through an intermediary while he was being detained in Paris roughly a year ago, requesting that he remove specific Telegram channels ahead of Moldova’s presidential elections in 2024.
Durov said that after channels violating Telegram’s rules were removed, an intermediary informed him that French intelligence would favorably address the judge overseeing his August arrest if he cooperated.
His allegations come as Moldova’s pro-European Party of Action and Solidarity, backed by President Maia Sandu, holds a commanding lead. This is amid a new election that will decide the future of the country’s parliament. As of Sunday, over 50% of votes had been counted.
Both elections have been marked by claims of Russian meddling. According to an Al Jazeera report, Sandu warned Sunday that Russia had “massively interfered” in the country’s democratic process.
Meanwhile, protests outside of parliament have been called for by pro-Russian opposition leader Igor Dodon, with reported plans to annul the vote.
In his Sunday post, it was further alleged by Durov that authorities later provided a second list of channels last year that were not “legitimate and fully compliant with our rules,” and whose only commonality was the voicing of “political positions disliked by the French and Moldovan governments.”
Durov Defends Telegram’s Political Neutrality Amid Legal Pressure in Eastern Europe
“We refused to act on this request,” he said. “Telegram is committed to freedom of speech, and content will not be removed for political reasons.”
He claimed that authorities were exploiting his legal situation to influence political developments in Eastern Europe. This was a pattern he said had also “been observed in Romania.”
Even Alex Chandra, a partner at IGNOS Law Alliance, told that platforms must clearly distinguish between violations of their own standards and politically sensitive yet compliant content.
“Rule-based governance is non-negotiable,” Chandra stated. Platforms that clearly distinguish between violations of their own standards and politically sensitive yet compliant content can preserve their credibility in the eyes of regulators, investors, and users.
“Legal exposure is becoming leverage,” he added. “As seen in the Telegram case, executives’ judicial vulnerabilities may be used by state actors to extract concessions.”
The Battle for Privacy
Durov’s allegations resonate with ongoing battles in the crypto space, where privacy tools are being clamped down on by governments.
Recent convictions of Tornado Cash developer Roman Storm for operating an unlicensed money transmitter and guilty pleas from the founders of Samourai Wallet point to a pattern of pressure being applied to privacy-focused platforms.
“Both communications platforms and crypto networks face parallel tactics of state interference,” Chandra said. “It should be anticipated by multinational firms that once a regulatory playbook proves effective in one vertical, it may be replicated across others.”
According to Mohith Agadi, founder of Fact Protocol, the situation reflects “a broader tension between state interests and digital freedoms.”
“The challenge arises when these two priorities collide, particularly in politically sensitive moments,” Agadi stated. “What is needed is greater transparency, clear standards, and independent oversight mechanisms.”
The French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs responded to Durov’s claims, retweeting a post that said the Telegram founder “likes making accusations while elections are ongoing.”
Following his arrest, Durov remains under judicial supervision in France and is required to report to authorities every 14 days, with “no appeal date in sight.”
The Open Network’s Toncoin, which is closely associated with Telegram, dropped in value immediately after his detention. According to CoinGecko, the token now trades at $2.71, a 67% decrease from its all-time high of $8.25.
