Moldovan leader accuses Telegram of election interference

Moldovan President Maia Sandu has accused the messaging platform Telegram of disregarding government requests and posing a threat to the country’s national security.

Speaking at a press conference after a Supreme Security Council meeting, Sandu said the council discussed attempts to interfere in the upcoming parliamentary elections, Caliber.Az reports, citing Russian media.

“Closed groups on Telegram are being used to organise protests, spread information about rewards for participation, and schemes to bribe voters. This happened during last year's elections and continues now. Unfortunately, there is no communication with the Telegram platform: government agencies do not receive responses even to reports of fake news or corrupt activities taking place on this platform,” Sandu stated.

When asked by a journalist whether access to Telegram might be restricted, Sandu declined to comment directly on the issue. She noted that other social media platforms such as TikTok, Facebook, and Instagram also pose risks related to disinformation.

“There is some form of communication with [these] three platforms, and we hope that this communication will move to the next level — to cooperation,” the president added.

Moldova’s parliamentary elections are scheduled for September 28. Current opinion polls indicate that the ruling Party of Action and Solidarity (PAS) may lose its parliamentary majority, likely leading to a coalition government. The opposition includes an electoral bloc around the Socialist Party and the Alternative bloc, which advocates a pro-European stance. Notably, the major opposition bloc Victory, has been barred from participating in the elections.

By Tamilla Hasanova