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Four Bulgarians were sentenced to two to four years in prison for their involvement in spray-painting blood-red hands Paris‘An act of vandalism was committed at the Holocaust Memorial French Intelligence services linked to destabilization campaign Russia,
A Paris court sentenced Georgy Filippov and Kirill Milushev, who admitted their roles in the graffiti painting, to two years in prison, and Nikolay Ivanov, accused of recruiting them, to four years. The alleged ringleader, Mircho Angelov, is at large and sentenced to three years in prison.
intel Services point to Russia
Last year about 500 red hands were painted on a wall in Paris and surrounding areas to honor those who helped save Jews during World War II. The graffiti was initially seen in the context of the war in Gaza, which has led to anti-Semitic incidents and increased tensions across Europe.
But French intelligence services say the Red Hands were part of a strategy by Russia to use paid proxies to divide public opinion, stoke social tensions and spread false information, according to court documents. Governments across Europe have in recent years accused Russia of a campaign of sabotage that includes paying people to carry out vandalism, arson and bombing attempts.
The court stated that “foreign intervention aims to divide French society but this in no way diminishes individual responsibility.” It noted the seriousness of the crime at the targeted site for its importance.
The plaintiffs included the Paris Holocaust Memorial and the League Against Racism and Antisemitism.
During the trial, both Filippov and Milushev expressed regret, stating that they had been paid by Angelov to paint red hands and film the graffiti.
Ivano, the third defendant, denied responsibility for the graffiti. He said he paid for plane and bus tickets and a Paris hotel for other people at Angelov’s request and denied any pro-Russian ties or feelings.
This was one of many strange incidents
Red Hands graffiti was among several incidents linked to destabilization campaigns in France over the past two years, and was prosecuted for the first time. Among others:
– In October 2023, shortly after the start of the Israel-Hamas war, stencils of blue Stars of David appeared on buildings in Paris. French officials accused Russian security services of instigating the controversy over the stars. Two Moldovan people were detained and deported in the case.
– In June 2024, five coffins appeared under the Eiffel Tower in a reference to Ukraine ahead of a visit by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. According to the prosecutor’s office, three people born in Bulgaria, Germany and Ukraine are suspected and warrants have been issued for their arrest.
Unusual spray-painted images and messages in reference to Ukraine appeared on the streets of Paris a few days after Zelensky met with the then-US President. Joe Biden In the capital of France. Three Moldovans were detained.
Last month, severed heads of pigs were found near nine mosques in the Paris region, five of which had Macron’s name scrawled on them. Investigation is going on.