FILE PHOTO: Telegram app logo is seen in this illustration taken, August 27, 2024. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/File Photo
MOSCOW (Reuters) - The founder of the Telegram messaging app said on Sunday he had refused a request by a Western government, which he did not name but appeared to imply was France, to silence conservative voices in Romania ahead of a presidential election run-off there.
Romanians were voting on Sunday in a run-off that pits a hard-right eurosceptic against a centrist independent. The outcome of the contest will have significant implications for both Romania's struggling economy and European Union unity.
The vote takes place nearly six months after the initial ballot was cancelled because of alleged Russian interference - denied by Moscow - in favour of far-right frontrunner Calin Georgescu, who was banned from standing again.
"A Western European government... approached Telegram, asking us to silence conservative voices in Romania ahead of today's presidential elections. I flatly refused," founder Pavel Durov wrote on Telegram.
"Telegram will not restrict the freedoms of Romanian users or block their political channels," Durov said, adding to his post an emoji of a baguette which might hint at France.
"You can't 'defend democracy' by destroying democracy. You can't 'fight election interference' by interfering with elections. You either have freedom of speech and fair elections — or you don't. And the Romanian people deserve both," he said.
In a post on X accompanied by a screenshot of Durov's message, the French foreign ministry denied any interference by France.
"Completely unfounded allegations are circulating on Telegram and Twitter (X) regarding alleged French interference in the Romanian presidential election," it said.
"France categorically rejects these allegations and calls on everyone to exercise responsibility and respect for Romanian democracy."
Durov, who was born in Russia and is based in Dubai, was detained last year in France amid an investigation into crimes related to child pornography, drug trafficking and fraudulent transactions associated with the app. In March Durov, who denied any wrongdoing, returned to Dubai.
(This story has been refiled to add the dropped word 'a' in paragraph 7)
(Reporting by Reuters; Editing by Gareth Jones)
