Telegram's Durov claims he stopped answering Macron's texts
In May, Durov accused Nicolas Lerner, the head of France's foreign intelligence agency (DGSE), of asking him to censor conservative voices on Telegram during Romania's election campaign. He also said, citing journalist Marius Tuca, that Lerner visited Romania two days before the vote. The agency has denied the claims.
'For a long time, he [Macron] could send me messages on Telegram about all sorts of topics,' the Russian-born entrepreneur told the newspaper. 'The last time was the day I spoke about the Romanian elections and the DGSE.'
'He sent me a message. I didn't reply,' he said.
Romania's Constitutional Court annulled the results of the first round of the presidential election carried out in November 2024 due to alleged Russian interference – claims which Moscow has denied. Independent candidate Calin Georgescu, who secured an unexpected lead after the vote, was disqualified from the re-run.
In May, the conservative EU critic George Simion lost a run-off vote against pro-Brussels Bucharest Mayor Nicusor Dan by a single-digit margin. Simion later challenged the results, alleging 'external interferences by state and non-state actors,' but the nation's Constitutional Court unanimously rejected the petition.
Following the petition, Durov offered to testify before the Romanian authorities about his interactions with French officials, saying he would do so 'if it helps Romanian democracy.'
In August 2024, Durov was arrested in France and charged with complicity in crimes allegedly carried out by Telegram users. The entrepreneur, whose company is headquartered in Dubai, was ultimately released on €5 million ($5.46 million) bail and allowed to leave the country in mid-March.
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