Russian-born man arrested in France over alleged plans to ‘destabilize’ Olympics – POLITICO

In the run-up to the Games, French authorities conducted around a million background checks on a wide range of people, including athletes, volunteers and recruited personnel. Around 4,340 people were denied access to the Games – of whom fewer than a hundred were suspected of acting as foreign agents.

Russian athletes are allowed to take part in the Games, but only under strict conditions. They will compete as neutral athletes and not in their country’s colors. They will also have to undergo a vetting process to ensure that they do not support the invasion of Ukraine or have any links to the military.

In response to this decision, Moscow was accused of conducting a hybrid destabilization campaign targeting France and the Olympic Games through mass disinformation. Russia denied the allegations, calling them “Russophobic.”

“We are here to ensure that … sport is not used for espionage, cyberattacks or to criticize – and sometimes even lie about – France and the French,” outgoing Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin told reporters on Tuesday.

Although the French Interior Ministry does not expect a direct attack from Russia, it remains cautious about possible isolated strikes.

With the Paris Olympics plagued by cybersecurity, disinformation and terrorist threats, a massive security apparatus has been set up across the city, including a network of roadblocks crisscrossing the capital.