Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov attends the eighth Russian-Chinese language EXPO and the 4th Russian-Chinese language Discussion board on Interregional Cooperation in Harbin, China, Could 17, 2024.
Sergei Bobylyov | By way of Reuters
The Kremlin denied an allegation that it’s waging a disinformation marketing campaign in opposition to France, its president and the 2024 Olympic Video games in Paris.
The Microsoft Menace Evaluation Heart, or MTAC, mentioned Sunday that “Russia is ramping up malign disinformation campaigns in opposition to France, French President Emmanuel Macron, the Worldwide Olympic Committee (IOC), and this summer time’s Olympic Video games in Paris.”
The MTAC mentioned it had noticed “previous ways mixing with synthetic intelligence (AI) in malign exercise that will intensify because the 2024 Paris Opening Ceremony approaches.” It mentioned the operations had two principal goals, to “denigrate the fame of the IOC” and to “create the expectation of violence breaking out in Paris on the Video games.”
On Tuesday, Kremlin press secretary Dmitry Peskov characterised the MTAC’s accusations in opposition to Russia as slander, information company RIA Novosti reported.
“They [the allegations], relatively, belong to the class of such messages — merely sweeping criticism, which has no foundation in argument. Sadly, we’re more and more encountering this. But it surely has nothing to do with actuality, it’s absolute slander and nothing extra,” Peskov informed reporters.
Russia has continuously lambasted the Olympic Video games after Russian and Belarusian athletes have been banned from collaborating within the competitors beneath the Russian or Belarusian flags because of the ongoing battle in Ukraine.
They can compete as “impartial” rivals, nevertheless. The IOC has mentioned that athletes who actively help the battle, or who’re contracted to the Russian or Belarusian army or nationwide safety businesses, can’t compete.
Franco-Russian relations bitter
Already at a low ebb after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Russia’s relations with France have deteriorated additional in current months after French President Emmanuel Macron advised that Paris would think about sending floor troops to Ukraine if such a request was made.
The feedback despatched NATO’s management and different members of the army alliance scrambling to disclaim that there have been any plans to ship floor troops into Ukraine, a transfer that may put Russia and NATO in direct battle.
Russia’s pro-Kremlin media wasted no time in lambasting Macron for his feedback, and relishing the discomfort they induced for Western allies, and have continuously warned that French troops can be focused if deployed in Ukraine.
Russian President Vladimir Putin claimed Ukraine’s losses are eight occasions increased than these of Russia throughout an interview with Chinese language media.
Ludovic Marin | Afp | Getty Photos
Russia has in the meantime positioned itself because the sufferer of “Russophobia” by the West. On Tuesday, the Russian Embassy in Paris demanded that the French authorities cease what it claimed was a misinformation marketing campaign directed in opposition to Russia.
“The embassy appeals to the French authorities to place an finish to the unprovoked and unsubstantiated anti-Russian info marketing campaign,” a communiqué issued by the Russian Embassy on social media platform X mentioned.
“The Russian Embassy in France expresses its sturdy protest in opposition to a brand new Russophobic marketing campaign launched within the French media. The hysteria unleashed is already immediately affecting the safety of Russian residents in France, together with Embassy workers,” the embassy claimed, with out giving additional particulars.
France has not but responded on the feedback.
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