Telegram Founder Pavel Durov Rejects EU Censorship Request Amid Romanian Election

Telegram founder Pavel Durov has publicly refused a Western European government’s demand to censor conservative voices on the platform ahead of Romania’s presidential runoff election. The MOVE underscores growing tensions between tech platforms and regulatory pressures in the EU.

Durov’s May 18 Telegram post framed the issue as a fundamental democratic principle: "You can’t ’defend democracy’ by destroying democracy. You can’t ’fight election interference’ by interfering with elections." While not naming the government involved, his use of a baguette emoji sparked widespread speculation about French involvement.

The controversy emerges during a volatile period for Romanian politics, with reports suggesting the censorship request targeted specific electoral narratives. Durov’s stance reinforces Telegram’s positioning as a free speech alternative in the messaging app landscape.