Russian Spy Infiltrating Olympics Turns Out to Be Chef... "Lived in Paris for 14 Years Collecting Intelligence" [Paris Olympics]

Living 14 Years in Paris as a Spy
French Authorities Wiretap Calls with FSB Official
Israel's First Participation Match Proceeds Safely

A Russian chef who was spreading various fake news related to the 2024 Paris Olympics and conducting espionage activities within France has been arrested. It was revealed that he had been living and operating in Paris for 14 years under the orders of a special unit under the Russian Federal Security Service (FSB), raising vigilance against Russians across European countries. Concerns are also being raised that terrorism and espionage activities, reminiscent of the Cold War era, may occur at the Olympics, which is called the festival of peace.

Training scenes of cadets belonging to the Federal Security Service (FSB) of Russia. [Image source=TASS·Yonhap News]

Espionage activities in Paris... Possible sentence of over 30 years in prison

According to the British newspaper The Guardian, French police revealed that the Russian arrested on charges of planning to spread fake news during the Olympics in France and passing confidential information to the Russian government was a chef who had lived in Paris for 14 years. They did not disclose specific personal details such as his real name.

[Image source=UPI Yonhap News]

He is suspected of creating various fake information to provoke hostile acts against the Paris Olympics and sharing it with Russia and other foreign forces. French police found numerous documents containing orders from a special intelligence unit under the FSB in his apartment in central Paris. The Guardian reported that although it was not revealed whether his activities were linked to terrorist plots, he could face a prison sentence of over 30 years on espionage charges.

This Russian had lived in Paris for more than 14 years working as a chef and had appeared on Russian TV cooking programs and reality shows. In 2012, he suddenly moved from Paris to Moscow. At the time of his move, he told his Paris landlord that he was going to become a government official in Russia, but he returned to Paris a year later.

French authorities tracked from May... Wiretapped calls with Russian FSB

[Image source=TASS Yonhap News]

After identifying signs of espionage by the Russian chef, French intelligence authorities tracked him for several months to gather evidence, and in May, they succeeded in wiretapping a call between him and an FSB agent while he was traveling in Istanbul, Turkey.

According to Le Monde, at that time, he was denied boarding a flight in Turkey due to excessive drinking and returned to France via neighboring Bulgaria. The wiretapped call with the Russian agent occurred during this period. In the call, he said, "France will have an unprecedented opening ceremony." It is presumed that he was conspiring with Russian intelligence authorities on some special plan ahead of the Paris Olympics opening ceremony. French intelligence authorities have not disclosed the details of what plans he conspired with the Russian side.

In addition to the arrested chef, a Russian-linked spy arrested last month reportedly claimed to be from Hamas. He was arrested on charges of spreading false information via various social networking services (SNS) that Hamas would carry out terrorist attacks targeting Israeli athletes at the opening ceremony.

Israel’s first match proceeded safely... Security top priority during Olympics

On the 24th (local time), the match between Israel and Mali in Group D of the men's football at the 2024 Paris Olympics was held at Parc des Princes stadium in Paris.
[Image source=AFP·Yonhap News]

French authorities are concerned not only about Russian spies but also about many operatives and terrorists from the Middle East region causing incidents. They are focusing security personnel on the Israeli team’s matches, where terrorist activities could be concentrated.

According to AFP, the soccer match held on the 24th as the first event for the Israeli team at the Paris Olympics ended safely without any incidents. The men’s soccer match between Israel and Mali from West Africa, held at the Parc des Princes stadium in Paris, ended in a 1-1 draw without major disturbances. French police deployed about 1,000 officers in preparation for any emergencies, and agents from Shin Bet, one of Israel’s three intelligence agencies, were also deployed.

With surprise anti-Israel protests by anti-war groups continuing, maintaining security for the Israeli team is expected to be the biggest challenge throughout the Olympics. Earlier in May, during the UEFA European Women’s Championship qualifier between Israel and Scotland held in Glasgow, Scotland, a protester tied themselves to the goalpost with a rope, disrupting the match and causing all spectators to evacuate the stadium before the game could continue.