The Kremlin on Monday called Romania’s presidential election “strange,” condemning the disqualification of pro-Russian candidate Calin Georgescu from a previous vote and raising questions about the fairness of the process that ended with a victory for pro-European centrist Nicusor Dan. Telegram founder Pavel Durov, meanwhile, alleged that French intelligence pressured him to suppress voices supportive of nationalist runner-up George Simion.
“The elections were strange, to say the least,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said. “We know the story of the candidate who had the best chance of winning. Without bothering to find any justification, he was simply forcibly removed from the race.”
Georgescu had been the frontrunner in the 2024 election before Romanian authorities removed him over what they claimed was an undeclared Russian influence campaign. Russia denied any involvement and accused Romania of barring him for political reasons.
Separately, Telegram founder Pavel Durov claimed that French intelligence services tried to pressure him into limiting support for Simion on Telegram, where the nationalist candidate had drawn considerable backing. Simion had pledged to end Romania’s military aid to Ukraine.
Commenting on Durov’s allegations, Peskov said, “The fact that European countries, France, Great Britain, Germany, interfere in the internal affairs of other countries is not news.”
In the presidential election also held Sunday in Poland, liberal Warsaw Mayor Rafal Trzaskowski and conservative historian Karol Nawrocki have emerged as the front-runners, according to exit polls, setting the stage for a runoff in two weeks. Official results are expected Monday or Tuesday.
