Overview
- Durov posted the claim on Sept. 28 as Moldovans voted, saying an intermediary approached him about a year earlier on behalf of French intelligence.
- He says the request was to help the Moldovan government censor certain Telegram channels ahead of Moldova’s 2024 presidential election.
- According to Durov, Telegram reviewed channels flagged by French and Moldovan authorities, removed some for rule violations, and rejected a subsequent list.
- Durov, who was arrested in France in August 2024 and remains under investigation, claims the intermediary promised praise to his judge in exchange for cooperation.
- France’s Foreign Ministry publicly rejected the account via its “French Response” X handle, pointing to a pattern of election‑timed accusations that also included Romania, and Elon Musk amplified Durov’s post with a “Wow.”