During that period, Telegram refused a demand from Russia’s Federal Security Service for encryption keys, seeking access to messaging data. Here's my 4+ hour conversation with Pavel Durov (@durov), founder and CEO of Telegram. Other high-profile incidents of alleged poisoning by Russian intelligence also marked that period. Durov Accuses French Intelligence of BlackmailEarlier this week, Durov made a social media post regarding recent elections in Moldova. Durov, however, claimed that French officials attempted to influence Moldova’s elections by pressuring him to ban pro-Russian Telegram channels connected to the vote.