Telegram Founder Accuses French Intelligence of Political Manipulation

Pavel Durov, the founder of Telegram, accused French intelligence services of attempting to exert geopolitical influence under the guise of combating terrorism and child pornography. In a series of posts on the X platform, he claimed that the true intent behind meetings with representatives from the French Directorate General for External Security (DGSE) was to influence the political landscape in Romania, Moldova, and Ukraine, rather than addressing law enforcement matters.

Durov recounted an incident from spring 2025 when DGSE head Nicolas Lerner approached him at the Hôtel de Crillon in Paris, requesting that he block conservative Telegram channels ahead of the Romanian presidential elections on May 18. He stated, “I categorically refused. We did not block protesters in Russia, Belarus, or Iran, and we will not start doing so in Romania,” emphasizing that Telegram would not interfere in the elections under the pretext of safeguarding democracy.

He further revealed that while French intelligence agencies were interested in obtaining IP addresses of terrorism suspects, the topic of child pornography was notably absent from their discussions.

In response to Durov’s accusations, the French Foreign Ministry and DGSE categorically denied the claims, labeling them as “totally unfounded.” The ministry’s statement on X stressed that France did not meddle in the Romanian elections and suggested that Durov’s allegations were an attempt to divert attention from real threats, including purported Russian interference via social media. The Romanian Foreign Ministry also reported signs of “Russian interference” in the elections, highlighting activity on platforms like Telegram and TikTok.

Durov’s allegations are rooted in his arrest in France in August 2024, where he faced 12 charges, including complicity in drug trafficking and child pornography due to alleged inadequate moderation on Telegram. After being released on €5 million bail, he left France for the UAE, where he remains under judicial supervision. In March 2025, he announced an increase in moderation efforts on Telegram, including the issuance of IP addresses and phone numbers of violators based on court orders.