Kremlin criticized France on Monday for its decision to refuse accreditation to some Russian journalists for the Paris 2024 Olympics, accusing the French authorities of undermining media freedom. French Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin announced on Sunday that over 4,000 applications for Olympic accreditations had been rejected due to security concerns, including fears of espionage and cyberattacks. Among those turned away were journalists from Russia and Belarus, a close ally of Moscow.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov condemned the move, stating, “We consider such decisions unacceptable. They undermine media freedom and violate France’s commitments to the OSCE and other organizations.” Peskov called for responses from relevant human rights and media freedom organizations.
The controversy comes amid heightened tensions between Russia and Western nations. Recently, Russia faced criticism from the West after U.S. reporter Evan Gershkovich was convicted of espionage and sentenced to 16 years in a maximum-security penal colony. The Wall Street Journal, Gershkovich’s employer, denounced the ruling as a “disgraceful sham conviction.”
Relations between Russia and France have worsened significantly due to the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, with France supplying military aid to Kyiv and President Emmanuel Macron labeling Russia as a key adversary.