France denies entry to several Russian and Belarusian journalists on suspicion of espionage

According to Sputnik, French Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin said that a number of Russian and Belarusian journalists were denied permission to cover the Summer Olympic Games in Paris due to concerns about espionage and cyber attacks.

French Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin. (Source: Le Journal du Dimanche)

In an interview with Le Journal du Dimanche on July 20, Mr. Darmanin said: “We have rejected less than a hundred applications due to suspicions that they (journalists) were agents - spies or informants for foreign countries trying to interfere in the Olympics.

Most of them come from Russia and Belarus, as well as a number of other countries, the list of which I will not disclose... in addition to traditional intelligence and espionage activities, also have the ability to access computer networks to carry out cyber attacks.”

According to him, French special agencies have examined more than 960,000 applications submitted from all over the world and rejected 4,340 of them. Among them, he said, were volunteers, journalists and members of sports delegations.

The 2024 Summer Olympics will be held from July 26 to August 11, while the Paralympics will take place from August 28 to September 8.

Considering the risk of potential threats at the Olympic opening ceremony, which will take place along the banks of the Seine and the Trocadero Square, France has decided to reduce the number of spectators from 600,000 to 326,000. Before the start of the competitions, special QR codes will be issued to those who need to move around Olympic facilities and the Paris area.

Source: https://baoquocte.vn/olympics-paris-2024-phap-tu-choi-nhap-canh-nhieu-nha-bao-nga-va-belarus-vi-nghi-ngo-gian-diep-279518.html