French President Emmanuel Macron has said that Russia is employing tactics of misinformation in an attempt to cast doubt on the legitimacy of the Paris Olympics.
When attending the opening of a new Olympic swimming facility, journalists inquired about his thoughts on whether Russia was deliberately focusing on the Games.
“Without a doubt,” he said, “including in the field of information.
“Every day (Russia) is putting out stories saying that we are unable to do this or that, so (the Games) would be at risk.”
According to the French government, Russia has intensified its propaganda assaults on France, employing fabricated social media accounts to disseminate rumors and disinformation.
This development comes in the wake of Mr. Macron adopting a tougher stance on the Ukraine conflict, as he no longer categorically dismisses the possibility of deploying French troops in support of Kyiv.
The French government alleges that Russian intelligence was behind the graffiti of Israeli Stars of David on Parisian walls after the October 7 Hamas attacks, a move interpreted as an attempt to exacerbate tensions in France.
Following the Crocus City Hall terrorist attack near Moscow, the defense ministers of France and Russia shared an unusual phone conversation on Wednesday.
Mr. Macron explained that France possessed intelligence pertinent to the alleged attackers, hailing from the Afghan faction of the Islamic State group, which could assist the Russian authorities in gaining further insights.
Recounting their dialogue, French Defense Minister Sebastien Lecornu conveyed his discussion with counterpart Sergei Shoigu, articulating France’s reservations about Russian assertions linking Kyiv to the Crocus City Hall attack, assertions lacking evidential support, as indicated by France.
Claims have been made regarding a group of Russian-operated online platforms known as Portal Kombat, accused of circulating false narratives, such as reports of French mercenaries in Ukraine and allegations of Mr. Macron calling off a visit to Kyiv due to threats of assassination.
Read also: French Troops Will Remain In Chad, Macron’s Envoy Insists
But in his account of the phone call, Mr Shoigu said: “The Kyiv regime does nothing without the approval of its western minders. We hope that in the case (of the Crocus City Hall attack) the French secret services are not involved.”
Asked about Mr Shoigu’s remarks on Thursday, Mr Macron said they were “bizarre and menacing … ridiculous.”
The president confirmed for the first time that there are alternative plans for the Olympics opening ceremony in July, if the terrorist threat worsens.
Currently the 26 July ceremony is supposed to take place on boats in the river Seine, with more than 300,000 people watching from the quays. However experts have warned that the occasion is highly vulnerable to terrorist attack.
“We will be ready,” Mr Macron said. “We are preparing several scenarios. If the threat were to evolve, if we considered that circumstances made it necessary, we have back-up scenarios.”
Mr. Macron also endorsed the prominent French-Malian songstress Aya Nakamura, whose name has been put forward as a possible performer at the opening ceremony. Critics from the far-right realm of French politics question her potential as an ambassador, citing concerns over the coarse and occasionally unintelligible nature of her song lyrics.
“She speaks to a good number of our fellow citizens and I believe she has every right to be at the opening or closing ceremonies of the Games,” the president said.