The Kremlin on Friday denounced as “unacceptable” French President Emmanuel Macron’s claims that Russia was trying to undermine the Paris Olympics through a disinformation campaign. Macron said on Thursday that Moscow was trying to promote the narrative that France was incapable of hosting the Games and that the event would be a risk.
French President Macron warned last Thursday of the danger of Russian disinformation during the Paris Olympics, saying his country was ready for the challenge. “I don’t doubt” that the Games will be targeted by Russia, “including in the field of information,” Macron said at the inauguration of the Aquatic Centre, the largest sports facility built for next summer’s Olympics.
“These are completely groundless accusations,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters on Friday. He said it was “absolutely unacceptable behaviour” and characteristic of Western accusations that are “never backed up by adequate evidence.
The West has long accussed Russia of running disinformation campaigns and trying to sow discord, particularly in online media. In recent months, Paris has also accused Russia of trying to manipulate public opinion over the Ukraine conflict by flooding social media and pro-Kremlin media with narratives seeking to justify its offensive.
The World’s most eagerly awaited event is taking place in a complex global context. Russia’s war in Ukraine and the conflict between Israel and Hamas in Gaza are complicating efforts to secure the Olympic Games, which will be held in France from 26 July to 8 September and are expected to attract at least 10 million spectators.
