France Rejects 1,200 Russian Visa Applications To Thwart 'Spies' Amid Ukraine War

Paris: France has rejected approximately 1,200 Russian visa applications since the war in Ukraine started in February 2022, according to the leading French daily, Le Monde. The French Foreign Ministry source indicated that the rejection policy illustrates a state of reinforced "consular vigilance" and is part of a general security policy coordinated across the Schengen Area.

The aim is to prevent Moscow from rebuilding an intelligence network severely disrupted after a wave of diplomatic expulsions in 2022. In 2022 alone, 55 Russian diplomats were expelled by France, after the Bucha massacre, in a move which further worsened Franco-Russian relations.

EU leaders have not ceased to be alarmed by the influx of Russians entering Europe, despite the implementation of restrictive policies intended to curb the issuance of visas. French domestic intelligence services, including the General Directorate for Internal Security (DGSI), play a key role in identifying high-risk profiles in coordination with their European counterparts.

French officials have thwarted "thirty and forty" attempts by Moscow to assign operatives with diplomatic cover since mid-2022. The intelligence agencies are also worried about the relatives of Russian diplomats, saying that they can sometimes present significant threats.

Russian methods have adapted to increased watchfulness. The intelligence services have reported the utilization of "agents without cover," pretending to be journalists, conference attendees, or representatives of international organizations. Particular attention is placed on Russians who are named to Paris-based organizations such as UNESCO.

Visa denials have not only been aimed at diplomats but also businessmen and women, conference speakers, and even festival-goers. French security officials admit that applications from young graduates under 30 are especially challenging, as a shortage of background information makes it difficult to assess risk. 

Moscow has been increasingly resorting to its "illegals" — deep-cover agents implanted in foreign societies, dormant until now — to conduct its espionage activities, Le Monde added.

 Relations between Moscow and Paris remain tense. Two weeks ago, Russia condemned the temporary detention at Roissy Charles de Gaulle airport of one of its delegates, qualifying as "unacceptable" the behavior of the French authorities.

The diplomatic spat continues as the war in Ukraine rages on. Russia launched its so-called "special military operation" in February 2022, citing security concerns and the protection of Russian-speaking populations. Ukraine and its Western partners denounce the invasion as an illegal act of aggression against Ukrainian territorial control.

Despite repeated efforts at brokering ceasefires, fierce fighting continues in Ukraine's east and south. The conflict has claimed tens of thousands of lives, displaced millions, and devastated civilian infrastructure. Western nations, for their part, have kept Russia under severe economic sanctions and bolstered Ukraine's defense both economically and militarily.