France accuses Russia of meddling over Star of David photos circulating online

In a statement, the Foreign Ministry accused the Russian network RRN/Doppelganger of trying to “take advantage of international crises to sow confusion and strain public debate in France and Europe” and of running a new Russian operation to interfere in domestic affairs through online platforms.

The charge comes after French prosecutors this week opened an investigation into the possibility that the graffiti, which is widely condemned as anti-Semitic, may have been painted at the request of someone living abroad.

Prosecutor Laure Beccuau said the arrest of two Moldovans, who told investigators they were acting on the orders of a third party, would lead to an investigation into the purpose of the massive star-studded buildings.

Investigators said some of the massive anti-Semitic graffiti may have been painted at the request of someone living abroad and hinted at a possible link to Russia.

“This is stupidity, complete nonsense and simply indecent,” Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova told reporters Thursday when asked if the incident could be linked to Russia.

“This is simply an attempt by French officials or their special services to pretend that the rise of anti-Semitism in France is not an internal problem,” she added.

The RRN/Doppelganger network has been blamed for earlier disinformation campaigns against France.

Tensions have risen in Paris, home to large Jewish and Muslim communities, after the October 7 attack on Israel by the Palestinian militant group Hamas, which prompted Israel to launch a bombing campaign in the Gaza Strip.

The graffiti, which reminded some of the World War II Nazi occupation of Paris and the deportation of Jews to concentration camps, has drawn condemnation from across the political spectrum.