French counterintelligence has identified at least a dozen Russian agents using the Leboncoin site to make contact with French people.
Their targets, generally young graduates, are first approached to serve as private tutors to their possible future dealing agent… before the latter asks them for increasingly confidential information about their sector of activity. Information on advanced technology, but also on French domestic politics was thus obtained.
A well-established modus operandi
Identified in several separate cases, the Russian secret services have worked their approach well. Each time, after spotting the profile of young graduates whom they consider promising, they contact them to ask them for courses in their specialties. After a few sessions to build their confidence, they offer them, for a few more tickets, to send them much more sensitive information.
The cases identified by the article of World relaying this case thus include an engineer developing civil and military technologies. Another profile discovered was writing notes on French policy and the country’s energy project, particularly with regard to the Nordstream 2 gas pipeline. In all, the DGSI is said to have identified at least 12 similar cases. Each time, the interlocutor banishes electronic contacts as quickly as possible so as not to leave any traces.
The large presence of the Russian secret services in France
The breakup of the USSR was obviously not enough to wipe out all the habits of the Russian intelligence services. If the FSB is the best known of the successors of the infamous KGB, it is here the SVR, in charge of foreign intelligence, which is in question.
These agents identified in this way are relatively untouchable, because they usually work officially for the Russian Embassy in Paris and are therefore covered by diplomatic immunity. The DGSI, which has identified about 75 Russian agents on French territory, most often has to content itself with monitoring them very closely, or even sending them discreet messages to make them understand that they are. However, France reserves the right to expel them if the activities of these agents were to jeopardize national interests. This is particularly what happened last April, when 6 Russian diplomats were forced to leave the territory.
Sources: The world, BFM TV
13