Paris: Russia firmly denies allegations that it is interfering in France's internal affairs ahead of the country's spring 2027 presidential election, the Russian Embassy in Paris told Anadolu, adding that efforts to exploit the idea of a "Russian threat" are "doomed to failure."

According to Anadolu Agency, the Russian Embassy stated, "As has already been stated repeatedly, Russia does not interfere in the internal affairs of sovereign states." The embassy criticized Western governments, including France, for making unfounded accusations against Russia and for using the narrative of a "Russian threat" to justify anti-Russian policies and increased military spending.

The embassy highlighted that rising defense spending by Paris is occurring at the expense of socially important sectors, leading to a worsening budget deficit and increased public debt. They claimed that political leaders accusing Russia are attempting to divert attention from their own governance issues, which are contributing to economic challenges, industrial decline, social inequalities, and reduced purchasing power.

The response from Russia follows months of allegations from French officials and politicians regarding Russian interference. France's foreign digital interference watchdog, VIGINUM, attributed disinformation operations to pro-Russian networks Matryoshka and Storm-1516, as reported by French media. These operations allegedly targeted political figures such as Gabriel Attal, Edouard Philippe, and Raphael Glucksmann.

Attal accused Moscow of attempting to influence the 2027 presidential election, claiming that Russia wants to prevent the French people from making an informed choice. French President Emmanuel Macron also addressed the issue, accusing Russia of purchasing fake accounts during election periods.

In an interview with Ouest-France, Jean-Noel Barrot, then France's minister delegate for Europe, stated that the threat of foreign interference is real, citing propaganda from Russia and its proxies aimed at disrupting public debate and the European election campaign. Contacted by Anadolu, VIGINUM has yet to respond.

France's presidential elections are set for April 18, 2027, with a potential second round on May 2 if no candidate achieves a majority in the first round.