Pavel Durov, the founder of Telegram, openly rejected requests from French authorities to censor conservative political content on Telegram ahead of the Romanian presidential elections held on May 18, 2025. While initially hinting at France as the source of censorship demands through a baguette emoji, Durov later explicitly named France and revealed he had met Nicolas Lerner, head of French intelligence, who requested the ban of conservative channels on Telegram.
Durov emphasized Telegram’s commitment to free speech, stating the platform would not restrict Romanian users' political channels and underscored his consistent stance against censorship, noting Telegram's refusal to block protesters’ rights in countries like Russia, Belarus, or Iran. The elections resulted in Nicusor Dan, the liberal mayor of Bucharest, defeating right-wing nationalist George Simion to become Romania’s president.
The situation drew considerable attention following Durov’s August 2024 arrest in France, where prosecutors accused him of enabling criminal activities via Telegram, accusations widely seen as politically motivated attempts to pressure him into censorship. After his arrest, Durov was released on a €5 million bail and subjected to judicial supervision. In March 2025, his bail terms were modified allowing travel to Dubai.
French Prime Minister Emmanuel Macron congratulated the new Romanian president and acknowledged election manipulation attempts without denying their existence. The crypto community has praised Durov's commitment to privacy, free expression, and individual liberty, viewing him as a key figure defending these values.