France is raising its voice.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced on Monday that six Russian spies unmasked by the DGSI would be expelled from the territory after a "clandestine operation conducted by the Russian intelligence services".
The announcement, which comes a week after the expulsion of 35 Russian diplomats, comes in a tense diplomatic context with the war in Ukraine.
Why are these agents going to be expelled?
After the sanctions and the warnings, the expulsions.
France announced on Monday that it had decided to expel six Russian agents involved in a "clandestine operation" carried out by Russia on French territory.
This strong decision is the result of a long investigation carried out by the DGSI.
"The General Directorate of Internal Security revealed on Sunday April 10 a clandestine operation carried out by the Russian intelligence services on our territory", according to a press release from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The counterintelligence work of the French services was praised by the Interior Minister, Gérald Darmanin, who recalled that “the DGSI watches over our fundamental interests”.
Remarkable counterintelligence operation.
Congratulations to the agents of the DGSI who hindered a network of Russian clandestine agents who were working against our interests.
The agents involved will have to leave the national territory.
In the shadows, the DGSI watches over our fundamental interests
— Gérald DARMANIN (@GDarmanin) April 11, 2022
Neither the Quai d'Orsay nor the Minister of the Interior went into detail.
The question, in the midst of the war in Ukraine and when diplomatic relations with Russia are tense, is highly sensitive.
The nature of the actions of these Russian agents has not been disclosed.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs only mentioned "activities (which) have proven to be contrary to our national interests".
"It could be recruiting informants or gleaning information that is almost forbidden," imagines Jean de Gliniasty, former French ambassador to Russia, who stresses that these expulsions of Russian agents are nothing extraordinary.
“In general, these are confidential matters that are done discreetly but with the war in Ukraine, we are marking the blow.
It means that we don't let it go, that we watch them.
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Who are these officers?
Like the nature of their activities, the identity and profile of the six agents were not mentioned.
These are Russians who worked in France.
The Quai d'Orsay mentioned "six Russian agents operating under diplomatic cover", now "declared persona non grata".
“This diplomatic cover means that they have a diplomatic passport, therefore certain immunities, and their activities are outside the normal range of diplomatic activities.
The term agent is completely neutral, but if they are fired, it is because they have engaged in illicit practices, ”says the former French ambassador to Russia.
Gérald Darmanin spoke of a “network of clandestine Russian agents who worked against our interests”.
Could they be people linked to the Russian Embassy?
"The number two" of the Russian Embassy was in any case summoned by the Quai d'Orsay.
Contacted by us, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs did not respond to our requests.
Are there any precedents?
This announcement is the second round of evictions in a few days.
On April 4, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced “the expulsion of many Russian personnel with diplomatic status assigned to France”.
Their activities were “contrary to our security interests,” which is a bit different from the rhetoric for Russian agents.
Jean de Gliniasty anticipates "a Russian response with a mirror effect" and expulsions in Russia.
The action, which involved 35 Russian diplomats to which are now added the six agents, was part of a European approach.
Many other European countries such as Germany, Italy, Spain, Slovenia, Austria, Poland, Greece or Croatia had also expelled many diplomats.
Depending on the country, these expulsions which officially responded to the war in Ukraine were sometimes accompanied by accusations of espionage.
