Overview

• Pavel Durov says an intermediary asked him on behalf of French intelligence to censor Moldovan Telegram channels ahead of the 2024 vote in exchange for help with his court case.
• According to Durov, the intermediary promised they would “say good things” to the judge who ordered his 2024 arrest if he cooperated.
• Telegram removed a small number of channels that violated its rules, then refused a second list that Durov says targeted legitimate, compliant political voices.
• France’s foreign ministry publicly dismissed the allegation and highlighted that Durov made a similar claim about Romania earlier this year, which the DGSE previously denied.
• The claims surfaced as Moldova held a parliamentary election seen as pivotal for its EU path, with reports of pro-Russian influence shaping the political stakes.