French authorities have apprehended a Russian national suspected of orchestrating “destabilization” plots during the upcoming Paris Olympics. The 38-year-old man was detained and placed under judicial investigation for allegedly “organizing events likely to lead to destabilization during the Olympic Games.”
Prosecutors revealed that an investigation was initiated into “passing intelligence to a foreign power in order to arouse hostilities in France,” a crime punishable by up to 30 years in prison. A search of the suspect’s residence, conducted at the request of the interior ministry, yielded evidence supporting the alleged plans.
However, authorities emphasized that the plot was not terrorist in nature and that anti-terrorist prosecutors were not involved in the case. In preparation for the Olympics, authorities have conducted extensive background checks on over a million individuals, including athletes, coaches, journalists, volunteers, security guards, and local residents near event locations.
Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin disclosed that 4,360 individuals were denied access to the Games, with 880 of them barred due to suspected foreign interference. Recent incidents have raised concerns about foreign actors attempting to influence French public opinion or foment divisions.
In June, dummy coffins labeled “French soldiers in Ukraine” were left near the Eiffel Tower. In May, red hands were painted on Paris’s main Holocaust memorial. Following Hamas’s attack in October, stars of David were tagged on buildings in the Paris region, leading to the arrest of two Moldovan suspects.
