The Kremlin expressed its disapproval on Monday regarding France's decision to deny accreditation to certain Russian journalists for the Paris 2024 Olympics due to security concerns. This move was deemed unacceptable by the Kremlin, which also accused French authorities of compromising media freedom.
France's interim interior minister announced on Sunday that over 4,000 applications for Olympic accreditations were rejected by French security services, citing concerns about espionage and cyberattacks. Gerald Darmanin revealed that nearly a hundred applications were turned down due to espionage fears, including some from Russia and Belarus, a close ally of Moscow.
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov criticized the decision during a press conference, stating, "We view such decisions as unacceptable. They undermine media freedom and violate France's obligations to the OSCE and other organizations." Peskov also expressed hope for a response from human rights and media freedom organizations.
This incident follows Western accusations against Russia for violating media freedom, after a U.S. journalist was convicted of espionage and sentenced to 16 years in a high-security penal colony. The Kremlin maintained that the court's decision was within its jurisdiction, despite not presenting evidence, and claimed the journalist was caught "red-handed."
Tensions between Russia and France have significantly worsened due to the conflict in Ukraine. France has provided military support to Kyiv, and President Emmanuel Macron has characterized Russia under President Vladimir Putin as an adversary, warning that Europe's credibility would be nullified if Moscow prevailed in the war.
