France mentioned it had uncovered a Russian intelligence operation on French soil and would expel six Russian brokers it mentioned have been working below diplomatic cowl.
“After a really lengthy investigation, the Basic Directorate of Inner Safety (DGSI) uncovered on April 10 a clandestine operation by Russian intelligence providers in our nation,” France’s overseas ministry mentioned in an announcement on Monday.
“Six Russian brokers working below diplomatic cowl, and whose actions turned out to be in opposition to our nationwide pursuits” have been declared personae non gratae.
The overseas ministry gave no additional particulars of the character of the Russian operation, nor did inside minister Gérald Darmanin, who mentioned on Twitter solely that it was a “outstanding counter-espionage operation”.
Remarquable opération de contre-espionnage. Bravo aux brokers de la DGSI qui ont entravé un réseau d’brokers clandestins russes qui œuvraient contre nos intérêts. Les brokers impliqués devront quitter le territoire nationwide. Dans l’ombre, la DGSI veille sur nos intérêts fondamentaux
— Gérald DARMANIN (@GDarmanin) April 11, 2022
France had earlier this month expelled 35 Russians with diplomatic standing following publication of pictures of atrocities allegedly dedicated by Russian troops in Bucha after the invasion of Ukraine in late February.
That was a part of a broader, co-ordinated EU response, with Germany additionally expelling diplomats the identical day.
France has summoned the Russian ambassador a number of instances in current weeks, together with over pictures and statements posted on Twitter from the embassy’s official account, which it referred to as provocative and indecent.
On Monday the French overseas ministry mentioned the ambassador’s quantity two had been summoned in his absence over the alleged Russian operation.
