France Expels 6 More Russian Individuals Suspected of Espionage Activities
by Park Pyunghee
Published 12 Apr.2022 07:22(KST)
[Asia Economy Reporter Park Byung-hee] Major foreign media reported on the 11th (local time) that the French government has expelled six additional Russian individuals suspected of espionage activities.
The French Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a statement on the same day, announcing that it had identified and expelled six Russian individuals who disguised their activities as diplomatic work but acted against French national interests.
The Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs explained that after a very long investigation by security authorities, it was discovered on the 10th that these six individuals were involved in secret activities related to Russian intelligence agencies. It further confirmed that these six individuals disguised their actions as diplomatic activities but acted against French national interests, designating them as "persona non grata" (diplomatically unwelcome persons).
The French Ministry of Foreign Affairs did not specify the activities against French national interests. G?rald Darmanin, the French Minister of the Interior, also stated on Twitter that surprising espionage activities had taken place but did not provide specific details.
Earlier, as evidence emerged that the Russian military committed mass killings of civilians in the Bucha area near Kyiv, the capital of Ukraine, many European countries expelled Russian diplomats on a large scale. The French government also announced last week that it would expel 35 Russian diplomats. At that time, the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs explained that the 35 diplomats engaged in activities against France's security interests.
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