France investigates alleged Russian interference in presidential election

The Paris prosecutor's office has launched an investigation into suspected Russian interference in the campaign for the upcoming presidential election in France, following a series of disinformation operations targeting prominent political figures.

The investigation focuses on the distribution of manipulated materials and false content that targeted potential candidates Gabriel Attal, Édouard Philippe and Raphaël Glucksmann.

On August 7, Gabriel Attal filed a lawsuit, accusing Russian-linked networks of an interference campaign against him. According to his lawyers, deepfake videos and fake French media pages were distributed on social media, in which Attal was portrayed as a drug user and a person suffering from Parkinson's disease.

Similar false claims have also been spread about former Prime Minister Édouard Philippe, including false accusations about his health condition.

Meanwhile, the disinformation against Raphaël Glucksmann has also focused on his partner, journalist Léa Salamé. She has been falsely accused of “media corruption.” On August 12, Glucksmann announced that he had also filed a lawsuit regarding these materials.

Viginum identifies networks linked to Russia

The French agency Viginum, which monitors and counters foreign interference in the digital space, has identified the Russian-linked networks Storm-1516 and "Matryoshka" as possible organizers of this campaign.

According to French authorities, these operations aim to create and spread false content that looks like material published by well-known media outlets, giving disinformation the appearance of credible news.

The purpose of these campaigns is to polarize society, damage the reputation of political figures, and undermine citizens' trust in democratic institutions and the electoral process.

The French case is seen within a broader pattern of alleged Russian interference in the political processes of democratic countries. The “Matryoshka” network, in particular, has been mentioned before for spreading fake materials that imitate publications by prestigious media outlets.

The Paris Prosecutor's Office's investigation is expected to determine the origin of these materials, the manner in which the campaign was coordinated, and the possible perpetrators behind it.

The GeoPost