Telegram head says he refused request to ‘silence’ conservative channels in Romania

By Burc Eruygur

ISTANBUL (AA) - Telegram founder and CEO Pavel Durov on Sunday said that he refused a request by a “Western European government” to “silence” conservative channels in Romania, as the country undertakes a second round of presidential elections.

Durov, in a statement on Telegram, did not specify which country had made the request, but said that he “flatly refused” it.

“Telegram will not restrict the freedoms of Romanian users or block their political channels. 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,” Durov added.

The Telegram CEO’s remarks come as Romanians began casting votes in the second round of presidential elections in the country earlier today, following a first round on May 4 during which no candidate was able to secure a majority of votes.