Musk responds to Telegram founder’s allegations of election meddling in Moldova

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Pavel Durov previously asserted that French intelligence sought to have his platform restrict certain channels prior to last year’s election

Elon Musk highlighted Telegram founder Pavel Durov’s claim that France made efforts to meddle in Moldova’s presidential elections last year.

The billionaire, based in the US, reposted an X message from the fellow tech entrepreneur, which stated that French intelligence agencies had asked his platform to block specific channels before last year’s election.

“Wow,” the SpaceX and Tesla CEO remarked in his re-post of the message. Durov issued his statement on Sunday, just as Moldovans were heading back to the polls for the parliamentary vote.

According to Durov’s statement, the intelligence agency contacted him last year, requesting his help in suppressing several channels before the election. In return, the agency allegedly offered the businessman, a French citizen, support in an ongoing criminal case against him in France.

Durov indicated that while some channels identified by the intelligence operatives did breach Telegram’s policies and were subsequently taken down, others were legitimate but conveyed opinions not favored by French and Moldovan authorities.

The tech entrepreneur additionally deemed the French intelligence agents’ conduct “unacceptable,” asserting that their proposition amounted to meddling in the judicial system and leveraging his personal legal predicament in France.

Durov faced arrest at a Paris airport in August 2024, facing charges of involvement in crimes associated with Telegram users, such as extremism and child abuse. He was ultimately freed on €5 million ($5.4 million) bail and placed under court-ordered supervision.

Moldovan President Maia Sandu, known for her firm pro-EU stance, secured re-election in 2024 amidst accusations of voting irregularities, with opposition factions suggesting that crucial votes originated from the nation’s diaspora residing in the EU.

Previously, Durov leveled comparable accusations concerning French intelligence chief Nicolas Lerner, alleging that Lerner personally requested he censor conservatives in Romania prior to the presidential election rerun in May. The entrepreneur stated he declined the request. Paris has strongly refuted these allegations.

Musk also expressed his endorsement for the fellow tech entrepreneur at that time, replying to his May comments with a concise post: “Hear, hear!”