The founder of the social platform "Telegram" Pavel Durov announced that an intermediary of the French intelligence services asked him to "censor" Moldovan publications in favor of the government immediately before last year's presidential elections in Moldova, BNR reported.
The billionaire of Russian origin claims that the intermediary promised him in return to put in a "good word" in the court that is considering his case for aiding international organized crime - a charge on which Durov was briefly arrested last year in Paris.
The Telegram founder described his arrest as a "wrong approach"
There has been no comment from the French authorities on his new allegations so far. Earlier this year, a Paris official categorically denied accusations that he had tried to "silence" publications by conservatives in Romania ahead of the elections there.
Moldova is holding parliamentary elections today, in which the pro-European "Action and Solidarity" party is fighting to stay in power. President Maia Sandu, who won a second term in last year's vote, said the opposition had spent 100 million euros buying votes with Russian help.
French intelligence asked Telegram founder to censor publications about Moldova
This was stated by Pavel Durin, explaining that in return he was promised a good word in court
Sep 28, 2025 20:05 288