France and Germany probe Russian disinformation campaigns targeting 2027 and September elections
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15 hours · 2 summary articles
France and Germany probe Russian disinformation campaigns targeting 2027 and September elections
Russia-linked GRU network targets French presidential hopeful with fake news and deepfakes
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French authorities suspect Russian intelligence is attempting to interfere in the country’s 2027 presidential election through a disinformation campaign targeting high-profile candidates, according to reports published on Tuesday.
Left-wing Member of the European Parliament Raphaël Glucksmann, a vocal Kremlin critic and likely presidential contender, said France’s Secretariat-General for National Defence and Security informed him he was the target of a Russian operation “directly controlled by the GRU,” Russia’s military intelligence agency. In a post on X, Glucksmann described the campaign as part of broader efforts to destabilize next year’s vote, adding that a fake article mimicking the left-wing news portal *Blast* and a video falsely claiming his partner, journalist Léa Salamé, had attempted to bribe reporters were part of the operation .
Former Prime Minister Édouard Philippe, a confirmed candidate in the race, was also reportedly targeted by a separate Russian disinformation effort last week . The Russian Embassy in Paris did not immediately respond to a request for comment from *Politico*.
Meanwhile, German security authorities are monitoring a Russian disinformation campaign ahead of state elections in September, with videos designed to discredit politicians and parties perceived as unfriendly to Moscow. The operation, dubbed “Matryoshka,” involves hundreds of videos bearing the logos of German media outlets to lend credibility, spread primarily via X. All major parties except the far-right AfD and the left-wing BSW have been targeted, according to security sources . The videos, mostly in English, follow earlier attempts to sow division between eastern and western Germany, including false claims about bullying of eastern German children in western schools. Authorities said the campaign is part of a broader hybrid threat, with Russia employing state and non-state actors to polarize German society .
French President Emmanuel Macron has stated that protecting the 2027 election from foreign interference is a top priority. The disinformation efforts in France and Germany align with a pattern of Russian operations observed in previous elections, including Germany’s 2025 federal vote, where similar tactics were deployed .
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Articles
A disinformation campaign controlled by Russias GRU has targeted French MEP Raphaël Glucksmann, a potential presidential candidate. Former Prime Minister Édouard Philippe was also reportedly affected by Russian operations last week. #Russia #EU #France
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