French 'spy' arrested in Russia following Macron's fighter jets offer to Ukraine
French President Emmanuel Macron
France confirmed on Thursday (June 6) that a French national has been arrested in Moscow but denied Russian claim that he was working for the Frenchgovernment to gather intelligence. The development coincides with French President Emmanuel Macron's remarks during an event to commemorate second World War's 'D-Day' landings in Normandy in which he said that Paris will transfer Mirage 2000-5 fighter jets to Ukraine amid its war with Russia.
"Tomorrow we will launch a new cooperation and announce the transfer of Mirage 2000-5 fighter jets to Ukraine, made by French manufacturer Dassault, and train their Ukrainian pilots in France," Macron told France’s TF1 broadcaster on Thursday (June 6). France has around 26 Mirage 2000-5 and 65 older Mirage 2000-D aircraft in active service, according to Flight International’s World Air Forces rankings.
Also read |D-Day Anniversary: Britain, France and US commemorate D-Day; Macron honours WW2 veterans
"In no way was he working for France. Now we are very vigilant, he will receive all the consular protections that apply in such a case. I want to say the truth in the face of the brainwashing that we hear," Macron said separately later while referring to a country's national's arrest in Moscow.
Russia's Investigative Committee said earlier on Thursday that a French citizen, employed by the non-profit Swiss Center for Humanitarian Dialogue, was detained on suspicion of "collecting information in the field of military activities of the Russian Federation".
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"For these purposes, he repeatedly visited the territory of Russia, including the city of Moscow, where he held meetings with citizens of the Russian Federation," the Investigative Committee said.
The ties between France and Russia have been on a downward spiral since President Vladimir Putin launched the invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
In 2022, Russia expanded the scope of its "foreign agents" law under which not only individuals or organisations receiving funding from abroad are described as foreign agents but also anyone who has "received support and (or) is under foreign influence".
(With inputs from agencies)