[PinkSheep]

I trust no one, not *fact-checked facts*, nor you, nor Durov, nor any government official. There exist enough inconsistencies about Durov's/Telegram's relationship with the government of Russia that you wouldn't see surface in the anglophonic sphere. The "French situation" added yet more to the pile of doubts.

If you wanted my reply to the rest of what you wrote, it is this: if you choose to believe a single social network/app is influential enough to manipulate an election, be logically consequential to recognize that they all are and do. Whether as a first party (the company itself is involved) or as an intermediary (via third-party bots).