Russia has vehemently denied any role in a stunt that saw several coffins appear at the Eiffel Tower in Paris.
In a statement on Tuesday, Russia’s embassy in France expressed “strong protest against a new Russophobic campaign launched in the French media” that it said is affecting the security of its citizens. The complaint came amid a string of denials by Moscow that it was seeking to influence public opinion as the West mulls raising support for Ukraine in its fight against Russia’s invasion.
“The Russian Federation has never interfered and does not interfere in the internal affairs of France – our country has other, more important priorities,” the embassy statement read.
Five coffins draped in French flag and bearing the inscription “French soldiers of Ukraine” were deposited by three men from a van on Saturday. A Bulgarian, a Ukrainian and a German, who were later arrested said they had been paid to drop the coffins at the iconic tourist spot.
French authorities and media have posited that Russia may have organised the stunt in response to President Emmanuel Macron’s suggestion that France could send members of the military to Ukraine to aid and train its forces or allow it to use French weapons to strike inside Russia.
Reporting on the stunt, French media have noted other recent activities that police have said may have involved Russian agents seeking to influence public opinion.
In November, shortly after the outbreak of the Gaza war, more than 200 paintings of the Star of David appeared on buildings around Paris.
