Moscow/Paris – The Russian Foreign Ministry has accused French President Emmanuel Macron of detaining Telegram founder Pavel Durov in an alleged attempt to interfere in Romania’s electoral process, intensifying diplomatic tensions in the wake of controversial election outcomes in the region.
The accusation was made by Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova, who alleged in a statement on Telegram that Durov’s arrest was politically motivated. “It turns out that Macron had Durov arrested not even to address internal issues with the messenger using such barbaric methods, but to influence the elections in Romania, realizing that the candidate from the liberal dictatorship wouldn’t be able to win under any legal circumstances,” Zakharova claimed.
The allegations follow public remarks by Durov, who said that French authorities had approached him about moderating content on Telegram during Romania’s election cycle. Citing Romanian journalist Marius Tucă, Durov noted that Nicolas Lerner, head of France’s Directorate-General for External Security (DGSE), had made a visit to Romania just days before the presidential vote.
Earlier this month, Durov also accused French intelligence of pressuring him to censor conservative voices on the platform ahead of the Romanian election. The DGSE has formally denied any such request. In response, Durov criticized French authorities for allegedly trying to deflect scrutiny by linking him to unrelated criminal cases involving Telegram users.
The tech entrepreneur, whose messaging platform is headquartered in Dubai, was arrested in France in August 2024 on charges of complicity in crimes committed via Telegram. He was later released on €5 million ($5.46 million) bail and permitted to leave France in March 2025.
Romanian Elections Under Scrutiny
The controversy comes amid heightened scrutiny of Romania’s recent presidential elections. The country’s Constitutional Court annulled the results of the November 2024 first-round vote, citing concerns over foreign interference. Independent right-wing candidate Calin Georgescu, who had gained an unexpected lead, was disqualified from participating in the re-run after allegations of Russian involvement.
In a closely contested run-off held last Sunday, George Simion, a conservative and outspoken EU critic, lost by a narrow margin to pro-European incumbent Bucharest Mayor NicuÈ™or Dan. On Tuesday, Simion filed a legal challenge citing “external interferences by state and non-state actors,” but the Constitutional Court dismissed the petition unanimously.
In the aftermath, Durov offered to testify before Romanian authorities about his reported interactions with French officials, stating he was prepared to do so “if it helps Romanian democracy.”
Rising Diplomatic Tensions
Romania’s Foreign Ministry had previously accused Moscow of attempting to sway the election outcome. The Kremlin dismissed the claim, mocking the electoral process and declaring that the vote “shouldn’t even count as a proper election.”
The situation continues to raise serious questions about the role of international actors—both state and non-state—in shaping electoral outcomes across Europe, particularly through digital platforms. The intersection of political influence, intelligence operations, and tech governance is now under increasing scrutiny in Brussels, Bucharest, and beyond.
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