• Pavel Durov rejected a request from a Western government to silence conservative voices in Romania.
• The Romanian presidential election has significant implications for the EU's unity and economy.
• Durov emphasized the importance of freedom of speech and fair elections for Romania.
• The French government denied allegations of interference in Romanian politics.
• This incident follows previous accusations and controversies around election integrity in Romania.

Pavel Durov, the founder of the Telegram messaging app, stated on Sunday that he refused a request from a Western government to "silence" conservative voices in Romania ahead of its presidential election run-off. He specified that this request was made by a government official, which he implies was French, but did not name the country directly. Durov emphasized that "Telegram will not restrict the freedoms of Romanian users or block their political channels," illustrating his stance on maintaining free speech amid political tensions in Romania, according to Channel News Asia and Reuters.

The context of this claim arises during a critical election that has significant consequences for Romania's economy and its position within the European Union. The run-off election pits a hard-right candidate against a centrist independent, and follows prior controversial elections that alleged foreign interference. Durov’s remarks suggest a staunch defense of democratic principles, as he stated, "You can't 'defend democracy' by destroying democracy," underlining the need for fair elections, according to Reuters and Anadolu Agency.

In a further development, Durov claimed that Nicolas Lerner, head of France's intelligence service, directly approached him in Paris this spring with the request to ban conservative voices on Telegram, which he firmly rejected. Following these allegations, the French government categorically denied any interference, describing Durov's claims as "completely unfounded." France’s foreign ministry has called for respect for Romanian democracy amidst these allegations, according to Times of India and TRT World.