France rejects the accusations of interference by the Telegram boss – Liberation

It was barely three hours before the offices closed on Sunday, May 18, when Pavel Dourov threw a pavement in the pond. On social networks, the founder of the Telegram messaging accused France of having sought to interfere in the presidential election, whose second round finally led, to everyone’s surprise, to the defeat of the far -right candidate George Simion, Beaten by the centrist mayor of BucharestNicusor Dan. “A government in Western Europe (guess which one ) contacted Telegram to ask us to silence the conservative voices in Romania before the presidential elections today. I categorically refused « first wrote Pavel Dourov, with an emoticon in the shape of a baguette to help his subscribers to find the solution of his riddle.

Then The French naturalized Russian entrepreneur in 2021 was even more explicit, in the evening, citing namely Nicolas Lerner, The Director General of External Intelligencewho would have asked him to « Banking conservative voices » During a meeting at the Crillon hotel in Paris, « In spring ». “We did not blocked those who protested in Russia, Belarus or Iran. We will not do it in Europe ”insisted Pavel Dourov on the social network X, Sunday. Immediately, France raised against the billionaire declarations, which had been arrested in the Paris region in the summer of 2024then indicted for a series of counts relating to illicit content circulating on Telegram.

In a response sent to AFP on Monday, the Directorate General for External Security (DGSE) said they had « Indeed has been obliged, on several occasions in recent years, to come into direct contact with Pavel Dourov to firmly remind him of the responsibilities of his business (…) in terms of prevention of terrorist and child pornographic threats ». But she said « Refute with vigor the allegations according to which requests for banning accounts, in connection with any electoral process, would have been made on these occasions ».

Nicusor Dan, the victorious candidate, denounced a « Demonstrate attempt to influence the result » ballot. His opponent George Simionon the other hand, hastened to set off again the publication of the founder of Telegram. The far-right deputy, who spoke of electoral fraud before recognizing his defeat in the night, had himself accused Paris of interference during his campaign. On the set of Cnews on Thursday, he reproached Emmanuel Macron to « Dictatorial trends » and a « intervention » in the Romanian electoral process. « The French ambassador has traveled all regions of the country to convince businessmen to support my opponent »he said.

In Romania, the subject is all the more sensitive since Justice had invalidated in December the (first) first round of the presidential electionwho had placed another representative of the far right in mind, due to suspicion of Russian interference. France was then congratulated by this decision. This Friday, Emmanuel again denounced « Interference » Who « Save the integrity of our democracies ». The President of the Republic referred to Romania, but also to Poland, where the first round of the presidential election was held on Sundayand in Moldova, which organizes legislative elections in September.

This MOSSCOC took advantage of Pavel Dourov publications on Monday on Monday to counterattack. « The fact that European countries-France, Great Britain, Germany-interfere in the internal affairs of other countries is not a noveltysaid Dmitri Peskov, Kremlin spokesperson. These are only examples that are revealed. Believe me, there are certainly many examples than those we know. ”