#foreign-interference

#foreign-interference

Four Bulgarians went on trial in France Wednesday accused of desecrating a Jewish memorial with red handprints last year, which prosecutors think may have been foreign interference linked to Russia. The vandalism was staged during heightened tensions in France over the war between Israel and the Palestinian militant group Hamas that broke out in October 2023. The trial is the first of its kind in France, one of a series of similar cases suspected of having been orchestrated by a foreign power

The Paris criminal court gave two-year sentences to Georgi Filipov and Kiril Milushev, described as the perpetrators, and four years and three years respectively to Nikolay Ivanov and Mircho Angelov, considered the operation's masterminds. Angelov is still at large. All four were also banned from entering French territory for life. The trial was the first of its kind in France, one of a series of similar crimes suspected of having been orchestrated by a foreign power with the aim to destabilise.

The arrests came days after French prosecutors said foreign interference was probably to blame for a spate of provocative acts that had targeted Jewish and Muslim sites in France in recent years, as tensions run high over the war in Gaza. French officials have previously said they were investigating Russia's role in destabilising operations that have stoked social tensions and sown division in France. On Monday, Serbia's interior ministry said the 11 people arrested were Serbian nationals.

The first complaint was filed by centrist MP Eric Bothorel, warning of algorithm changes and interferences in management since Elon Musk's acquisition, posing risks to democracy.

The assassination of Hardeep Singh Nijjar signifies a dangerous escalation in India's campaign against dissent and highlights the threat posed by transnational practices of foreign interference.

The operation against Joe Tay involves a mock 'wanted' poster and coordinated online content targeting his candidacy, expected to intimidate voters and silence dissent.