Durov: French Intel Sought Moldova Election Censorship

In a Sunday statement posted to Telegram and X, founder Pavel Durov made explosive allegations that French intelligence sought to exploit his legal troubles to influence Moldova’s political landscape. Durov claimed that while he was being detained in Paris approximately a year ago, French intelligence contacted him through an intermediary with a specific request: remove certain Telegram channels ahead of Moldova’s 2024 presidential elections. According to Durov, after Telegram removed channels that violated its rules, the intermediary informed him that French intelligence would “favorably address the judge” overseeing his August arrest if he cooperated.

Durov further alleged that authorities later provided a second list of channels that were “legitimate and fully compliant with our rules” but shared only one common characteristic: they voiced “political positions disliked by the French and Moldovan governments.” The Telegram founder stated unequivocally that “We refused to act on this request,” emphasizing that “Telegram is committed to freedom of speech and will not remove content for political reasons.” He characterized this pattern as authorities exploiting his legal situation to influence political developments in Eastern Europe, noting similar tactics were “observed in Romania.”

Durov’s allegations emerge during a critical political moment for Moldova. As of Sunday, with over 50% of votes counted in fresh parliamentary elections, Moldova’s pro-European Party of Action and Solidarity, backed by President Maia Sandu, holds a commanding lead. However, the electoral process has been marred by mutual accusations of foreign interference. President Sandu warned on Sunday that Russia had “massively interfered” in Moldova’s democratic process, according to an Al Jazeera report.

Meanwhile, pro-Russian opposition leader Igor Dodon has called for protests outside parliament, with reported plans to annul the vote. This political polarization creates a volatile environment where digital platforms like Telegram become battlegrounds for information control. The timing of Durov’s allegations, coinciding with ongoing vote counting and political tensions, underscores the high stakes of digital platform governance in geopolitically sensitive regions.

Legal experts see Durov’s experience as part of a troubling pattern affecting both messaging platforms and cryptocurrency networks. Alex Chandra, partner at IGNOS Law Alliance, told Decrypt that “Rule-based governance is non-negotiable. Platforms that clearly separate violations of their own standards from politically sensitive but compliant content can preserve credibility in front of regulators, investors, and users.” Chandra added that “Legal exposure is becoming leverage. As seen in the Telegram case, state actors may use executives’ judicial vulnerabilities to extract concessions.”

This pattern extends beyond messaging apps to cryptocurrency privacy tools. Recent convictions of Tornado Cash developer Roman Storm for operating an unlicensed money transmitter and guilty pleas from the founders of Samourai Wallet demonstrate similar state pressure tactics on privacy-focused platforms. Chandra observed that “Both communications platforms and crypto networks face parallel tactics of state interference. Multinational firms should anticipate that once a regulatory playbook proves effective in one vertical, it may be replicated across others.”

Mohith Agadi, founder of Fact Protocol, told Decrypt the situation reflects “a broader tension between state interests and digital freedoms.” He noted that “The challenge arises when these two priorities collide, particularly in politically sensitive moments. What’s needed is greater transparency, clear standards, and independent oversight mechanisms.”

The legal pressure on Durov has had tangible financial consequences for Telegram’s associated cryptocurrency. The Open Network’s Toncoin, closely linked to Telegram, tanked in the immediate aftermath of Durov’s detention. According to CoinGecko data, the token now trades at $2.71, down 67% from its all-time high of $8.25. This market reaction demonstrates how legal vulnerabilities of platform executives can directly impact associated digital assets.

The French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs responded to Durov’s claims by retweeting a post saying the Telegram founder “likes making accusations while elections are ongoing.” Meanwhile, Durov remains under judicial supervision in France following his arrest and is required to report to authorities every 14 days with “no appeal date in sight.” This ongoing legal entanglement creates continued uncertainty for both Telegram and its cryptocurrency ventures.

The case illustrates how digital platforms operating across multiple jurisdictions face complex challenges balancing free speech principles, regulatory compliance, and geopolitical pressures. As governments increasingly view digital platforms as tools for political influence, companies must navigate these tensions while maintaining user trust and investor confidence in an increasingly interconnected digital ecosystem.