Translated with AI
Telegram founder Pavel Durov has accused France of interfering in Romania's presidential election, pointing to suspicious coincidences between the visit of the head of French intelligence and support for a pro-Western candidate.
Durov shared a chronology of events on his page on the social network X, which, in his opinion, indicate an attempt by foreigners to influence the elections in Romania.
The founder of the messenger drew attention to the fact that Nicolas Lerner, the head of France's foreign intelligence, visited Romania just two days before the second round of the presidential elections, which took place on May 18. Moreover, Lerner's visit coincided with a public statement by French MEP Valérie Hayer, who openly supported the candidate with a pro-Western platform, Nicusor Dan.
Durov claims that Lerner demanded that Telegram restrict the work of conservative channels in Romania that supported Dan's opponent, the leader of the far-right party Simion, in order to reduce the influence of this political force on voters.
Pavel Durov has previously stated his readiness to give official testimony regarding possible external interference in the Romanian elections, which increases the significance of his accusations.
Let us recall that in the elections of May 18, Bucharest Mayor Nicusor Dan won in the second round, receiving the support of voters against the far-right candidate Simion. Dan is known for his pro-European position, support for Romania's integration into the EU and NATO, as well as support for Ukraine in the current conflict with Russia.
The elections were marked by high turnout and mutual accusations of outside interference. Romanian authorities had previously expressed concerns about Russian influence, but Pavel Durov's statement added a new "French trace" to the political landscape.
The French Foreign Ministry categorically rejected Durov's accusations, calling them "fake" and unfounded.
