DC: France is investigating Russia’s alleged role in promoting the so-called Yellow Vest movement after recent reports suggest Moscow-linked news outlets spread false information about the protests.
French security services are looking into whether Russian outlets boosted hashtags promoting the protests, Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian said in a Sunday local radio interview. His comments come after reports showed that 600 Twitter accounts pushed the anti-carbon tax protests.
The protests “have been at or near the top” of the list of accounts that Alliance for Securing Democracy monitor, the group’s social media analyst, Bret Schafer, told reporters. “That’s a pretty strong indication that there is interest in amplifying the conflict” for worldwide audiences.
Much of the content from the tweets is coming from Russian-owned outlets RT and Sputnik. Some of their reporting has been splotchy at best, according to Bloomberg News. For instance, both outlets falsely reported that police unions were showing their allegiance to the Yellow Vest movement.
“An investigation is now underway,” Le Drian said. “I will not make comments before the investigation has brought conclusions.”
French officials held out hope that French President Emmanuel Macron’s decision Thursday to nix an unpopular carbon tax might mitigate some of the anti-tax sentiment. read more
SNIP: There would be no Yellow Vest protests for Russia to secretly promote (allegedly) if Macron hadn’t tried to screw over his subjects with the Green Tax, illegal immigration and every other Socialist crap he could think of.
Putin ain’t shy.
He also ain’t clumsy.
The Frogs don’t need an excuse to demand a more “equitable” nihilistic socialism/totalitarianism.
They also don’t need the Russians to teach them how to be assholes – their “radical” revolution preceded the Russians by a hundred years.
Their media must be as stupid and corrupt as ours.
izlamo delenda est …
There was a report late last night that some protestor blew off his own hand with a grenade he was planning to throw at the cops.
On the other hand (lolz) I also read where some of the cops were backing the protesters.
Any French speaking readers want to give us an update on the real news in France and Belgium? I’m interested.
@Tim – You’re right, of course: Putin’s no dummy. I wonder if he’ll go ahead and do nasty stuff for Russia’s benefit since he’s getting blamed anyway.
Those Russians must be very busy interfering in everyone’s business. When do they have time for their own?
So, to recap, Russia is accused of helping both the people of the US and of France do what’s best for their countries. . . got it.
^^ Thanks, Al, I agree.
My take is the yellow vest protesters in France are on the opposite side of the “antifa” protesters in the USA.
Notice also how the gov’t in each country treats the protesters. In the US, they are coddled and even encouraged; in France they are met with force.
I think I’ve heard this song before. Didnt the Rove/Bush/Obama team write it 3 years ago? Does:ABC, CBS,CNN, FOX, and NBC play it 2 times now. Once in American (the original Bush version)and once in French?
Bush/Obama must be making big royalties!
If the Russians were helping to enact European Union crap nothing would be said.