Paris has suspended all communication within the area, regardless of receiving assist previously, the Russian ambassador stated
Paris has lower off counterterrorism collaboration with Moscow on the cusp of the upcoming summer time Olympic Video games, Russian Ambassador Aleksey Meshkov stated in an interview to French weekly Le Journal du Dimanche on Sunday.
The diplomat made his feedback a bit over two weeks after greater than 140 folks have been killed throughout a terrorist assault on the Crocus Metropolis Corridor live performance venue outdoors Moscow. France, which can host the Summer season Olympics this yr, raised terrorism alert and ramped up safety measures in Paris following the bloodbath.
The 2 international locations have traditionally labored collectively to battle in opposition to terrorism, Meshkov stated. “Lately, nonetheless, France has lower off all communication on this area,” the diplomat stated. “The information are simple: at the moment, France affords important help to Ukraine by way of data alternate, whereas Ukraine carries out terrorist actions in Russia.”
Ukraine has been engaged in assassinations and sabotage on Russian soil since Moscow launched its navy operation within the neighboring nation in February 2022. Though the jihadist group Islamic State Khorasan Province (ISIS-Ok) claimed duty for the assault on Crocus Metropolis Corridor, Russian investigators say they discovered proof pointing to Kiev’s attainable involvement.
“Just a few years in the past, Russia shared its experience on safety through the [2014] Sochi Olympics with France. Immediately, nonetheless, the French authorities have arrange a particular mechanism to work with all accredited overseas embassies in Paris on safety issues, however the Russian embassy has not been invited or knowledgeable about this initiative,” Meshkov stated.
The diplomat promised that Russia will notify Paris if it receives details about a safety risk through the Video games. Communication shall be troublesome, nonetheless, as a result of the embassy has been “fully lower off from any alternate of knowledge on the preparations for the Olympic Video games,” Meshkov pressured. “There isn’t a dialogue with us.”
On Thursday, French President Emmanuel Macron claimed that Russia was working a disinformation marketing campaign geared toward undermining the upcoming Video games. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov dismissed the accusation as “completely unfounded.”
The relations between the international locations stay strained as France continues to be one of many important supporters of Ukraine in Europe. Moscow has repeatedly criticized Paris for sending SCALP-EG cruise missiles and different weapons to Ukraine, and has accused it of permitting French “mercenaries” to battle for Kiev.
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