Telegram CEO Pavel Durov says a Western European government asked the messaging platform to censor conservatives in Romania ahead of the country’s presidential run-off election.
Durov made the claim in a statement posted to his Telegram channel on Sunday, the same day Romanians went to vote in the contest between the independent, pro-EU candidate and a right wing eurosceptic.
“A Western European government... approached Telegram, asking us to silence conservative voices in Romania ahead of today’s presidential elections. I flatly refused,” Durov wrote, according to Reuters.
He added that Telegram would not take down political channels or limit Romanian users' activity. “Telegram will not restrict the freedoms of Romanian users or block their political channels,” he said.
“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,” Durov continued. He also posted a baguette emoji, possibly pointing to France as the country behind the request.
Durov, originally from Russia and now a French national, was arrested in France last year during an investigation into offenses involving child pornography, drug trafficking, and fraudulent financial activity tied to Telegram. He denied any involvement and left France in March, relocating to Dubai.
Durov made the claim in a statement posted to his Telegram channel on Sunday, the same day Romanians went to vote in the contest between the independent, pro-EU candidate and a right wing eurosceptic.
“A Western European government... approached Telegram, asking us to silence conservative voices in Romania ahead of today’s presidential elections. I flatly refused,” Durov wrote, according to Reuters.
He added that Telegram would not take down political channels or limit Romanian users' activity. “Telegram will not restrict the freedoms of Romanian users or block their political channels,” he said.
“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,” Durov continued. He also posted a baguette emoji, possibly pointing to France as the country behind the request.
Durov, originally from Russia and now a French national, was arrested in France last year during an investigation into offenses involving child pornography, drug trafficking, and fraudulent financial activity tied to Telegram. He denied any involvement and left France in March, relocating to Dubai.
