Pavel Durov, the founder of Telegram, has offered to travel to Romania to testify in a potential investigation into claims of foreign interference in the country’s presidential election, a vote that has already been mired in annulments, accusations, and international friction.
His declaration came shortly after Romanian candidate George Simion demanded that the results be voided, arguing that the process had been compromised by outside forces. Simion, a nationalist who lost to pro-European contender Nicușor Dan, described the interference as coming from “state and non-state actors,” naming France and Moldova among the culprits. Durov, replying to Simion on X, said he was “ready to come and testify if it helps Romanian democracy.”
The runoff ended with Dan taking 53.6% of the vote, while Simion claimed 46.4%. Simion, however, has refused to accept the result, framing his loss as the product of coordinated external efforts to sabotage his campaign.
