Telegram’s Durov says he doesn’t answer Macron’s texts anymore
(MENAFN) Telegram founder Pavel Durov has revealed that he stopped responding to French President Emmanuel Macron’s messages following a dispute related to Romania’s presidential election. In an interview with Le Point on Wednesday, Durov said he ignored Macron’s most recent message after going public with allegations against France.
In May, Durov accused Nicolas Lerner, head of France’s foreign intelligence agency (DGSE), of pressuring him to censor conservative voices on Telegram during Romania’s election campaign. He also cited journalist Marius Tuca’s claim that Lerner had visited Romania just two days before the vote. The DGSE has denied these accusations.
“For a long time, Macron used to message me on Telegram about various topics,” Durov told the French outlet. “The last time was after I mentioned the Romanian elections and the DGSE. He sent me a message, but I didn’t reply.”
Romania’s Constitutional Court annulled the first round of its November 2024 presidential election over alleged Russian interference, which Moscow has denied. Independent candidate Calin Georgescu, who led in the initial round, was barred from contesting the re-run.
In the subsequent run-off, conservative EU critic George Simion narrowly lost to pro-EU Bucharest Mayor Nicusor Dan. Simion challenged the outcome, alleging outside interference by both state and non-state actors, but Romania’s Constitutional Court unanimously dismissed his claims.
Following this, Durov expressed willingness to testify before Romanian authorities about his communications with French officials, stating he would do so if it benefited Romanian democracy.
Durov was arrested in France in August 2024 on charges related to crimes allegedly committed via Telegram. He was later released on €5 million ($5.46 million) bail and allowed to leave France in March. Telegram’s headquarters remains in Dubai.
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