Overview

• Pavel Durov, founder of Telegram, declined a request from a Western European government to silence conservative voices in Romania before the presidential run-off vote.
• Durov emphasized that democracy cannot be defended by undermining free speech or interfering in elections, reaffirming Telegram’s commitment to user freedoms.
• Romania’s election pits a centrist independent against a hard-right eurosceptic, with significant implications for the country’s economy and EU stability.
• The run-off follows the cancellation of the initial presidential ballot six months ago due to alleged Russian interference, which Moscow denies.
• Durov, a French national, returned to Dubai in March after facing legal scrutiny in France over allegations tied to Telegram’s moderation practices.