Pro-Russian Le Pen Repaying 16 Billion Won Debt to Russian Military Supplier

Defense contractor 'Abiazaftchast' supplying weapons to Iran and North Korea faces US sanctions
Le Pen has a 'pro-Russian' background, including support for Russia's forced annexation of the Crimean Peninsula

Marine Le Pen, National Rally (RN) French presidential candidate.

[Asia Economy Intern Reporter Kim Se-eun] It has been confirmed that the 'Rassemblement National (NR)', the party to which pro-Russia French presidential candidate Marine Le Pen belongs, is repaying a large debt to a Russian military supplier.

According to a copy of the contract obtained by The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) on the 22nd (local time), NR must repay a total loan amount of 12 million euros, equivalent to about 16.1 billion KRW, to the Russian aircraft parts company 'Aviazapchast' from 2020 to 2028.

Aviazapchast is a company that supplies refurbished parts, fuel, lubricants, and other materials for Russian military aircraft to the Middle East, Asia, and Africa. In November 2020, it was sanctioned by the U.S. Department of State for supplying weapons to Iran and North Korea.

However, it has been confirmed that it is not subject to sanctions related to the current Ukraine war.

NR previously borrowed 9.4 million euros from the Russian bank 'First Czech-Russian Bank' in 2014.

At that time, the loan repayment deadline was set for September 2019, but in 2016, Aviazapchast acquired ownership of this loan, delaying the repayment date to 2028, nearly 10 years later.

WSJ reported that through this contract, NR was able to secure election funds and simultaneously enable Le Pen's presidential candidacy.

In France, candidates who receive more than 5% of the vote are reimbursed for half of their election expenses.

However, election expenses before the results are often dependent on financial institutions or loans, as banks or companies are not allowed to donate election funds to political parties.

Meanwhile, candidate Le Pen has publicly shown pro-Russia tendencies in the past.

She supported Russia's forced annexation of Ukraine's Crimean Peninsula in 2014 and opposed Europe's sanctions against Russia related to this.

However, it is reported that Le Pen opposes the current Russian invasion.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.