After diplomats, spies.

Paris has announced the expulsion of six people of Russian nationality "under diplomatic cover" and "whose activities have proven to be contrary to (its) national interests", indicated Monday, April 11, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in a press release.

"Following a very long investigation, the General Directorate of Internal Security (DGSI) revealed on Sunday April 10 a clandestine operation carried out by the Russian intelligence services on our territory. Six Russian agents operating under diplomatic cover (…) have been declared persona non grata,” the ministry said.

The press release indicates that "in the absence of the Russian ambassador, the number two was summoned to the Quai d'Orsay this (Monday) evening to be informed of this decision".

Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin hailed the work of French counterintelligence.

"Remarkable counter-intelligence operation. Bravo to the DGSI agents who hindered a network of Russian clandestine agents," he tweeted.

"In the shadows, 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

Paris had already announced, a week ago, the expulsion of 35 Russian diplomats, already repeating the formula according to which their activities were "contrary" to French interests and specifying that the sanction was part of "a European approach".

The Quai d'Orsay told AFP that these six spies were added to this previous list.

Many other European countries such as Germany, Italy, Spain, Slovenia, Austria, Poland, Greece or Croatia have massively expelled Russian diplomats since the start of the conflict in Ukraine.

The United States for its part sent home, in early March, 12 members of the Russian diplomatic mission to the UN.

In some cases, these expulsions were officially supposed to respond to the outbreak of war in Ukraine by Russian forces and the abuses for which they are accused by Westerners.

In several other cases, they were accompanied by accusations of espionage.

With AFP

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