Russian nationals among 4 people arrested in France over espionage investigation

French authorities have detained leaders of a pro-Russia organization on suspicion of gathering intelligence for a foreign power, amid growing concerns about Russian influence operations targeting France.

Anna Novikova, founder of SOS Donbass, and the group’s president Vincent Perfetti, have been taken into custody, the Paris prosecutor’s office confirmed Wednesday. Both face serious charges including criminal conspiracy and intelligence contacts with a foreign power—offenses punishable by up to 10 years imprisonment and substantial fines.

The prosecutor’s office identified Novikova as a 40-year-old dual French-Russian national who was born in Russia. She allegedly approached executives from various French companies to obtain information related to French economic interests, according to investigators from France’s domestic intelligence agency, DGSI.

The group gained public attention through a poster campaign featuring a handshake in Russian colors with the slogan “Russia is not my enemy.” SOS Donbass describes itself as a humanitarian organization collecting funds for residents of eastern Ukraine’s Donbas region, which is largely occupied by Russian forces. The group claims to distribute aid to people “who have been bombarded by the Ukrainian army with NATO weapons” and states its mission as building “a bridge of peace between Europe and Russia.”

Perfetti’s lawyer, David Bocobza, dismissed the accusations as “absurd” and “a worrying shift toward the criminalization of pro-Russian opinions” in a text message to The Associated Press. “This isn’t an espionage case,” Bocobza said. “It’s a case of poster-stickers.”

Two additional suspects have also been detained in connection with the case. Vyacheslav P., a 40-year-old Russian national, faces charges of criminal conspiracy and property damage to serve a foreign power after allegedly placing pro-Russia posters on the Arc de Triomphe in September. These posters displayed a Russian soldier with the phrase “say thank you to the victorious” Soviet soldier. According to prosecutors, phone records show contact between Vyacheslav P. and Novikova.

A 58-year-old French national identified as Bernard F. faces preliminary charges of criminal conspiracy and intelligence contacts with a foreign power. While not detained, he is barred from leaving France and must report weekly to authorities.

The crackdown comes as French President Emmanuel Macron has explicitly warned about Russian destabilization efforts targeting France, which has been a key supporter of Ukraine since Russia’s full-scale invasion began in February 2022. In a recent statement, Macron asserted that Russia is waging “hybrid wars” against Europe through various proxies.

“It pays people, mercenaries. It has pushed people to carry out destabilization activities in our countries,” Macron said.

France has increasingly found itself in the crosshairs of Russian influence operations. French government, intelligence and military officials report a significant uptick in cyberattacks, disinformation campaigns and other destabilization efforts originating from Russia. These tactics are part of a broader pattern of hybrid warfare targeting countries supporting Ukraine.

The Associated Press has documented dozens of similar disruption incidents across Europe since the beginning of Russia’s full-scale invasion. Such operations often involve cultivating local organizations and individuals to promote pro-Russian narratives, organize demonstrations, or gather information valuable to Russian interests.

The case highlights the complex challenge Western democracies face in balancing free speech protections with national security concerns as the Russia-Ukraine conflict continues to reverberate across Europe nearly four years after it began.