Telegram’s Durov Accuses France of Election Meddling as Crypto Plays Role in Moldovan Politics

Pavel Durov, CEO of Telegram, has leveled explosive allegations against French intelligence, claiming they pressured him to censor pro-Russian channels during Moldova’s elections. The accusations stem from Durov’s detention in Paris last year, where he says intermediaries demanded Telegram ban specific channels ahead of the Moldovan presidential vote.

The controversy underscores how crypto and Web3 tools have become geopolitical levers. Investigators previously uncovered a pro-Russian operation using cryptocurrency to fund candidates and influence campaigns. Now, Durov’s claims suggest Western actors may have also engaged in digital interference.

Moldova’s election has become a battleground for competing foreign agendas, with the EU and Russia vying for influence. The use of encrypted platforms like Telegram and crypto’s borderless funding mechanisms complicate traditional oversight, potentially eroding trust in electoral processes.