A Russian man who has taken part in multiple reality and cooking TV shows has been arrested over a plot to ‘destabilse’ the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris.
With 48 hours before the Opening Ceremony along the River Seine, France has been ramping up the security measures this week, locking up a perimeter along the river.
The 40-year-old man was detained on Tuesday after police raided his house at the request of the Interior Ministry.
Evidence found at his home raised ‘fears of his intention to organise events likely to cause destabilization during the Olympic Games’, a statement from the office of the prosecutor said.
No details were shared about this plot. Authorities confirmed it was not related to terrorism and that specialised anti-terrorism prosecutors were not handling the case.
Relations between France and Russia have been deteriorating for months over the bloodshed in Ukraine.
President Emmanuel Macron is a prominent critic of Vladimir Putin’s invasion and a strong supporter of the Ukrainian government.
French authorities have repeatedly flagged suspected Russian disinformation campaigns, while Russia has arrested a French researcher in the country on espionage charges.
The arrested man has been placed in pre-trial detention and could face up to 30 years in prison, the statement said.
Russia’s embassy in Paris said it had not received any official notification of the detention.
‘We proactively asked them for clarification. We will seek a reaction,’ it said in a statement.
Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at [email protected].
For more stories like this, check our news page.
MORE : From pub quiz to Paris – how I finally got a golden ticket to the Olympics
MORE : I’m in Paris for the Olympics – people say the city feels like a jail
Get your need-to-know
latest news, feel-good stories, analysis and more
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.