“After a very long investigation, the Directorate General of Internal Security (DGSI) revealed on April 10 a secret operation of the Russian intelligence services in our country,” the French Foreign Ministry said in a statement on Monday. “Six Russian agents operating under diplomatic cover and whose activities have proven to be contrary to our national interests” have been declared personae non gratae, the ministry added. The Foreign Ministry did not provide further details on the nature of the Russian operation, nor did Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin, who said on Twitter only that it was a “remarkable counterintelligence operation.” Remarkable counterintelligence operation. Congratulations to the DGSI agents who thwarted a network of Russian secret agents working against our interests. The agents involved will have to leave the national territory. In the shadows, DGSI is pursuing our core interests – Gérald DARMANIN (@GDarmanin) April 11, 2022 France had deported 35 Russians earlier this month following the publication of images of atrocities allegedly committed by Russian troops in Bucha after the invasion of Ukraine in late February. This was part of a broader, coordinated EU response, with Germany also deporting diplomats on the same day. France has summoned the Russian ambassador several times in recent weeks, including because of pictures and statements posted on Twitter from the embassy’s official account, which he described as provocative and indecent. On Monday, the French Foreign Ministry said the ambassador’s number two had been summoned in absentia for the alleged Russian operation.
