--- title: "A Western European government (guess which 🥖) approached Telegram asking us t…" source: "https://x.com/durov/status/1924124841629651023" platform: "X / Twitter" factual_accuracy: 81 overall_accuracy: null tags: ["telegram", "romania", "political silence", "censorship", "freedom of expression", "election integrity", "government interference", "conservative voices", "western europe"] --- # Source fact-check: A Western European government (guess which 🥖) approached Telegram asking us t… Original post: https://x.com/durov/status/1924124841629651023 Factual accuracy: 81% · Overall accuracy: Unknown ## Source post **Target post by @unknown** > A Western European government (guess which 🥖) approached Telegram asking us to silence conservative voices in Romania ahead of today’s presidential elections. I flatly refused. Telegram will not restrict the freedoms of Romanian users or block their political channels. ## Post analysis Post analysis will start after all claims are evaluated. ## Claims found (4) ### 1. A Western European government approached Telegram requesting that Telegram silence conservative voices in Romania ahead of Romania's presidential elections — 50% Model: Kimi K2.5 · Checked on: 05/04/2026 · Detail: /claim/RAArRKscMDXvNhX4CJDd Based on my research, I can analyze this claim: **Analysis:** - **Pavel Durov did make this claim**: On May 18, 2025 (the day of Romania's presidential runoff), Telegram founder Pavel Durov posted on his Telegram channel that "A Western European government (guess which 🥖) approached Telegram, asking us to silence conservative voices in Romania ahead of today's presidential elections. I flatly refused"[^7][^2]. He later explicitly named France, claiming that Nicolas Lerner, head of French intelligence (DGSE), made this request during a meeting at the Hôtel de Crillon in Paris[^3][^4]. - **France categorically denies this allegation**: The French foreign ministry stated: "France categorically rejects these allegations and calls on everyone to exercise responsibility and respect for Romanian democracy"[^4][^1]. The DGSE acknowledged meeting with Durov on various occasions regarding Telegram's obligations to prevent terrorism and child exploitation, but "vigorously refutes the allegations that requests to ban accounts related to any electoral process were made"[^3][^4]. - **This is a disputed claim with no independent verification**: We have conflicting accounts—Durov's assertion versus France's denial. There is currently no independent evidence or documentation to confirm whether such a request was actually made. - **Timing context**: The claim was made on May 18, 2025, during Romania's presidential runoff election between pro-EU candidate Nicușor Dan and nationalist George Simion[^5][^6]. Durov is currently under judicial supervision in France related to an investigation into illegal content on Telegram[^1]. **Overall validity**: 50% The claim accurately reflects what Pavel Durov stated publicly, but since France denies it and there is no independent verification available, the accuracy of the underlying allegation remains unconfirmed and disputed. [^7]: [Telegram Refused to Silence Romanian Conservatives Ahead of ...](https://freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/4317711/posts) [^2]: ['Completely unfounded allegations' Telegram's founder accused ...](https://meduza.io/en/feature/2025/05/20/completely-unfounded-allegations) [^3]: [Telegram's Durov says French spy chief asked him to ban ...](https://www.trtworld.com/article/85c9c089a6ba) [^4]: [France denies asking Telegram to censor Romanian conservatives](https://cadeproject.org/updates/france-denies-asking-telegram-to-censor-romanian-conservatives/) [^1]: [Telegram founder says he rejected a Western request to silence ...](https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/telegram-founder-says-he-rejects-request-silence-conservative-voices-romania-2025-05-18/) [^5]: [Telegram Controversy Shadows Pro-European Dan's Victory](https://www.riotimesonline.com/telegram-controversy-shadows-pro-european-dans-victory-in-tense-romanian-presidential-battle/) [^6]: [Telegram Founder Durov Says He Rejected Western ...](https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2025/05/18/telegram-founder-durov-says-he-rejected-western-request-to-silence-conservative-voices-in-romania-a89119) ### 2. A Telegram representative refused the request from the Western European government to silence conservative voices in Romania — 85% Model: Kimi K2.5 · Checked on: 05/04/2026 · Detail: /claim/Y9JoWNU2u1QvYusJlrsN Based on my research, here is my analysis of the claim: **Reasoning:** - Telegram founder Pavel Durov publicly stated on May 18, 2025, that a "Western European government" approached Telegram asking to "silence conservative voices in Romania" ahead of the presidential election run-off that day[^4][^1][^3] - Durov stated he "flatly refused" this request and said "Telegram will not restrict the freedoms of Romanian users or block their political channels"[^3][^4][^1] - In his initial post, Durov included a baguette emoji (🥖), which was widely interpreted as hinting at France[^2][^1][^4] - Hours later, Durov specifically named Nicolas Lerner, head of French intelligence (DGSE), claiming he asked to "ban conservative voices in Romania" at a meeting at the Salon des Batailles in the Hôtel de Crillon[^1][^4] - The French government denied Durov's allegations, calling them "completely unfounded allegations" and denying any interference in Romania's election[^4][^2][^1] - The claim is largely based on Durov's own account, which is disputed by France[^1][^2] - It was Durov (the founder/CEO) himself who made the statement and refusal, not merely a "representative"[^4][^3][^2] **Overall validity**: 85% [^4]: ['Completely unfounded allegations' Telegram's founder accused ...](https://meduza.io/en/feature/2025/05/20/completely-unfounded-allegations) [^1]: [Telegram will not restrict the freedoms of Romanian users](#iMlj92UEu1TpCwVHLFou) [^3]: [Telegram Founder Durov Says He Rejected Western Request to ...](https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2025/05/18/telegram-founder-durov-says-he-rejected-western-request-to-silence-conservative-voices-in-romania-a89119) [^2]: [Telegram founder says he rejected a Western request to silence ...](https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/telegram-founder-says-he-rejects-request-silence-conservative-voices-romania-2025-05-18/) ### 3. Telegram will not restrict the freedoms of Romanian users — 95% Model: Kimi K2.5 · Checked on: 05/04/2026 · Detail: /claim/iMlj92UEu1TpCwVHLFou Based on my research, I can verify this claim: **Verification Summary:** - **This statement was made by Telegram's founder Pavel Durov** on May 18, 2025, in a post on the Telegram platform[^3]. Durov stated: "Telegram will not restrict the freedoms of Romanian users or block their political channels"[^3]. - **Context**: Durov made this statement after claiming a "Western European government" (which he appeared to imply was France via a baguette emoji) had approached Telegram asking to silence conservative voices in Romania ahead of presidential elections[^3]. He stated he "flatly refused" this request[^3]. - **Telegram's general stance**: The company has consistently positioned itself as a defender of free speech, with Durov previously stating "Telegram stands for freedom of speech and privacy, no matter the pressure"[^2]. - **Legal compliance note**: While Telegram has stated it won't restrict Romanian users' freedoms, transparency reports show Telegram does process data requests from Romanian authorities (37-119 requests per quarter in 2025, affecting 51-119 users per quarter)[^4]. These requests are processed according to their Privacy Policy section 8.3, which involves IP addresses and/or phone numbers, not blanket content restrictions[^4]. - **Caveat**: While Wikipedia lists Romania among countries where Telegram has been blocked[^1], the evidence from Reuters confirms that Telegram's official position is that they will not restrict Romanian users' freedoms or block political channels[^3]. **Overall validity**: 95% [^3]: [Telegram founder says he rejected a Western request to silence ...](https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/telegram-founder-says-he-rejects-request-silence-conservative-voices-romania-2025-05-18/) [^2]: [Telegram app faces further restrictions, possible fines as Russian ...](https://finance.yahoo.com/news/telegram-messaging-app-faces-fines-114438698.html) [^4]: [Romania 2025 Q1-\>Q4 · Issue \#77 · Te-k/telegram-transparency](https://github.com/Te-k/telegram-transparency/issues/77) [^1]: [Censorship of Telegram - Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Censorship_of_Telegram) ### 4. Telegram will not block the political channels of Romanian users — 95% Model: Kimi K2.5 · Checked on: 05/04/2026 · Detail: /claim/CBkG9vRT2rNowoniAmMo **Verification Summary:** - **This statement is accurately attributed to Telegram's founder Pavel Durov** who made this declaration on May 18, 2025, during Romania's presidential election run-off. He explicitly stated: "Telegram will not restrict the freedoms of Romanian users or block their political channels"[^5][^2][^4]. - **Context of the statement**: Durov claimed he received a request from a "Western European government" (implied to be France via a baguette emoji) to silence conservative voices in Romania ahead of the election, which he "flatly refused"[^3][^5][^4][^2]. - **Multiple independent sources confirm** this statement was published on Telegram by Durov himself, and was widely reported by Reuters, Anadolu Agency, and other international news outlets[^2][^3][^4]. - **French government denied** the allegations that they requested such censorship[^4][^1], but this doesn't affect the validity of Durov's statement about Telegram's policy position. - **Important distinction**: This is Telegram's stated policy position/intent, not an absolute guarantee. The claim database notes that while Telegram has this stated position, they do process legitimate legal requests from Romanian authorities regarding specific user data[^5]. **Overall validity**: 95% [^5]: [Telegram will not restrict the freedoms of Romanian users](#iMlj92UEu1TpCwVHLFou) [^2]: [Telegram head says he refused request to 'silence' conservative ...](https://www.aa.com.tr/en/world/telegram-head-says-he-refused-request-to-silence-conservative-channels-in-romania/3572408) [^4]: [Telegram founder says he rejected a Western request to silence ...](https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/telegram-founder-says-he-rejects-request-silence-conservative-voices-romania-2025-05-18/) [^3]: [Telegram Founder Durov Says He Rejected Western Request to ...](https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2025/05/18/telegram-founder-durov-says-he-rejected-western-request-to-silence-conservative-voices-in-romania-a89119) [^1]: ['Completely unfounded allegations' Telegram's founder accused ...](https://meduza.io/en/feature/2025/05/20/completely-unfounded-allegations)