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French FM says large Russian disinformation campaign uncovered

French foreign minister Catherine Colonna said Russia had mounted a disinformation campaign 'based in particular on the creation of fake web pages impersonating national media and government sites as well as the creation of false accounts on social networks', adding that Russian embassies and cultural centres had 'actively' participated in amplifying the campaign. 

La rédaction de Mediapart

This article is freely available.

France on Tuesday said it had uncovered a major Russian disinformation campaign, with false news items hostile to Ukraine made to look like they were published by prominent French news media, reports FRANCE 24.

Western states have been acutely concerned about an intensification of Russian-led disinformation campaigns, as Moscow seeks to influence public opinion across the world over its invasion of Ukraine.

"France condemns these actions unworthy of a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council," foreign minister Catherine Colonna said. 

"The French authorities are working closely with their partners to defeat the hybrid warfare led by Russia," she added.

France has for several years sounded the alarm over alleged Russian disinformation campaigns in areas of Francophone Africa, particularly those where the Russian mercenary group Wagner has been active.

The campaign was carried about by "Russian actors" with "state entities or entities affiliated to the Russian state" then working to amplify its impact, according to Colonna. 

Read more of this AFP report published by FRANCE 24.