Russian interference in Madagascar: the Pulitzer for Gaëlle Borgia, correspondent for France 24

"Participating in a survey of this level for the New York Times was already a consecration for me, so the Pulitzer Prize ... It seemed so unattainable that it had never been on my radar." Gaëlle Borgia still can't believe it. This French journalist living in Madagascar since 2011, where she is notably the correspondent for France 24, is part of the team of the New York Times having received, Monday May 4, the Pulitzer Prize for her investigations into certain external operations of Russia by Vladimir Poutine.

The American daily newspaper published in 2019 a series of six articles on Russia's secret operations abroad, including an investigation co-written by Michael Schwirtz and Gaëlle Borgia on Russian interference in the Madagascan presidential election in 2018.

First contacted to help Michael Schwitz in his investigations, the work of Gaëlle Borgia proved to be decisive in obtaining key testimonies, including that of former president Hery Rajaonarimampianina, then candidate for re-election, only a few weeks before the election. . A contribution deemed "extraordinary" by the head of the international service of the New York Times, Michael Slackman, Monday evening, during the award ceremony, and which earned Gaëlle Borgia to have her name added next to the signature of Michael Schwirtz during the publication, on November 11, 2019, of the article entitled "How Russia Meddles Abroad for Profit: Cash, Trolls and Cult Leader" ("Cash, trolls and pastor: how Russia interferes with the 'foreign")

France 24: What was your reaction when you learned that you had won the Pulitzer Prize?

Gaëlle Borgia: First of all, because the Pulitzer Prize is so prestigious, it is a bit the equivalent of the Nobel Prize for journalists. Then great pride in the work I did in this investigation and which lasted several months. But what makes me particularly happy is that the award rewards teamwork. It is the "staff of the New York Times" which is rewarded, without any individuality being put forward. It makes me humble. Investigation is a work that is done by many.

I can't believe i'm part of this! It gives me energy and strength to keep going 💪🏿😊https: //t.co/4qWUJG0xbY

You show in your investigation how the Russians actively participated in the Madagascan presidential election of 2018 without really hiding ...

Yes, it was really fieldwork for them and not just social media interference. A whole team came to live in Madagascar for several months in order to re-elect Hery Rajaonarimampianina. It was enough to go to a campaign meeting to see them. Over time, they grew in importance by first becoming the little hands of the campaign team, only to end up being the ones giving orders. Madagascar is one of the few countries where we have been able to see concretely how the Russians operated with suitcases of cash, the publication of newspapers, the manufacture of derivative products, the organization of false demonstrations. Their interference had always been a bit abstract before that, but in Madagascar it was more concrete and very visible.

However, the Russians decide to change candidates when they realize that the outgoing president will not win. Does this mean that their influence remains limited despite their interference?

It is true that they broke their teeth a little on this presidential. They arrived with great certainty without knowing the country well and without realizing the forces involved. They were also quickly denounced by the other candidates and very quickly lost their credibility. Their goal was to get their hands on a chrome mine. It went wrong since they have left Madagascar today. So we can say that they generally failed in their project.

What difficulties did you encounter in conducting your investigation?

The most difficult thing was to walk with ants. We get closer to a source until they agree to speak to us. Then when she finally accepts, she doesn't say everything, right away. It is a work of excavation, constant, which advances from meeting to meeting. While digging, I ended up having a few small elements and to have a convincing element, you have to make your sources speak for several weeks, put them in confidence until the languages ​​loosen.

Especially since most of the witnesses who had worked with the Russians were afraid to speak to me. It was very difficult to get in touch with people who agreed to reveal their names. They begged me not to quote them and asked me regularly if I was sure nothing would happen to them.

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