Paris prosecutor opens probe into suspected Russian interference targeting French presidential candidates

Published Aug 18, 10:33 AM UTC

The Paris prosecutor's office has taken up on its own initiative suspicions of Russian interference targeting French presidential candidates Edouard Philippe and Gabriel Attal, as well as likely candidate Raphaël Glucksmann. In early August, a series of destabilization operations attributed to pro-Russian networks slandered the candidates: Philippe was defamed regarding his health, Attal was portrayed as potentially suffering from Parkinson's disease, and Glucksmann was defamed through his partner, journalist Léa Salamé. The AC2 fundamental freedoms protection section of the prosecutor's office took up the matter even before receiving formal complaints. Gabriel Attal filed a complaint on August 7 for foreign interference originating from Russian networks, while Raphaël Glucksmann filed a complaint on August 12, stating that Vladimir Putin's Russia must not be allowed to manipulate France's 2027 presidential election.

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