A Russian was arrested at Olympia on suspicion of espionage
Before the start of the Olympic Games in Paris, a Russian was arrested for the suspicion of espionage. The 40-year-old, who works as a cook in Paris, has been under observation by the French secret service for months. A suspicious document is also said to have been found on him.
In Paris, a Russian was arrested for the "risk of destabilization" during the Olympic Games. The 40-year-old is reportedly a cook and has lived in France for 14 years. He is suspected of planning "large-scale" actions with a foreign power to destabilize the situation during the biggest sports event in the world. The man is in custody.
According to reports, he was arrested at his apartment in the center of Paris on Sunday. The apartment was stormed around 6 am. A document was found that is linked to a Russian elite unit that works under the command of the Russian Domestic Intelligence Service (FSB). Legal proceedings were initiated against the man for "exchanging intelligence information with a foreign power to provoke hostilities in France". A crime that is punishable by up to 30 years in prison in France.
However, it is not believed that the alleged plot had a terrorist background, according to the "Guardian". The Paris Prosecutor's Office stated that the search of the Russian's apartment was carried out on the request of the Interior Ministry. According to French media reports, the investigators found evidence that the man was preparing a "large-scale project" that could have had serious consequences during the three-week games. No details were given.
Since 2010 in France
The French newspaper "Le Monde" reported that the arrested man in Paris completed a cooking apprenticeship and participated in Russian reality and cooking shows. In his resume, he described himself as a "private chef". He first came to France in 2010 and spent some time in Courchevel, a ski resort popular with the Russian elite. He worked in a Michelin-starred restaurant there before moving to Paris in 2012.
According to emails from September 2012 that "Le Monde" was able to see, the suspect informed his landlady, Viviane, that he was returning to Moscow to work as a civil servant in the Russian government. However, in April 2013, he participated in a civic integration course, a mandatory step in France.
Opening ceremony as a security risk
"Le Monde" reported further that the intelligence services had intercepted a conversation between the person and a Russian intelligence officer two months ago, in which the suspect mentioned that "the French are organizing an opening ceremony unlike any other before". The 40-year-old had been under observation for months. The suspicious phone call took place during a trip to Istanbul. Due to excessive alcohol consumption, he missed his flight and returned to France via Bulgaria. During this time, the suspicious phone call was intercepted.
On this Friday, the Olympic Games in Paris will be opened. Unlike usual, the opening ceremony will not take place in a stadium. Instead, participants and fans will gather along the Seine, and a large part of the celebration will take place on boats. Along the river, tribunes have been set up. This brings a great security risk with it. In the city center, many streets can currently only be entered with a access pass.
Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin announced that 4355 people had been excluded from the Games following security checks. All those who have in any way participated in the Olympics this summer were scrutinized - for instance, athletes, trainers, journalists, volunteers, employees of private security firms, and even residents.
The Olympic Games 2024 in Paris are seen as a potential target, given the ongoing espionage investigation involving a Russian individual. This individual, who has lived in France for 14 years and works as a cook in Paris, was arrested for suspected espionage activities that could have disrupted the games.
Despite the arrest of a Russian suspected of espionage, Russia has not officially commented on the matter, maintaining its usual diplomatic silence on such matters.
