On December 30, 2023, the Washington Post published an investigation exposing Russian interference in French public and political life.

The revelations are both shocking and alarming, highlighting Russia’s targeted efforts to destabilize France, which Kremlin documents describe as “vulnerable to political unrest and receptive to lobbying directed at political leaders.”

The Washington Post reports that Sergei Kiriyenko, deputy chief of staff to Vladimir Putin, explicitly tasked Kremlin political strategists with “fostering political discord in France,” “undermining France’s support for Kyiv,” and “weakening NATO’s resolve” through social media, political figures, opinion leaders, and activists.

For example, Kremlin strategists deployed troll farms to spread messages portraying support for Ukraine as “a foolish endeavor” leading to “inflation and a declining standard of living for the French.”

These troll accounts are not limited to the Ukrainian conflict. During the riots in June 2023, they were responsible for over 30.6% of comments posted on social media. Among the most active accounts, 24.2% inserted pro-Russian messages into their comments. The Washington Post noted that many of these accounts also claim to be supporters of Marine Le Pen or Éric Zemmour. These same fake accounts criticize support for the Ukrainian government while mimicking French users.

In November, French authorities also denounced Russian actions attempting to inflame tensions between Jewish and Muslim communities in France. A Moldovan couple was arrested for painting hundreds of Stars of David in Paris streets, with authorities suspecting they were acting under the instructions of a pro-Russian Moldovan businessman.

The investigation further uncovers ties between the Kremlin and far-right parties in France, which maintain privileged relationships with Russia and serve as channels for Russian lobbying in France. It also details Kremlin financial support for the Rassemblement National, including loans facilitated by Russian-linked banks to fund the 2017 presidential campaign.

These revelations highlight the extensive efforts by Russia to weaken French authorities’ and public opinion’s support for Ukraine. They should serve as a wake-up call to strengthen our resolve against Russian propaganda and influence operations in France.

Stand With Ukraine calls for a firm response to protect the democratic integrity of France and Europe against these persistent threats.

You can read the full Washington Post article here.