Russia on Wednesday urged France to immediately release Anna Novikova, a dual Russian‑French national held in France since late 2025 on suspicion of espionage, igniting a
fresh diplomatic dispute between the two capitals.
French prosecutors say Novikova, 40, who founded the pro‑Russia humanitarian organisation SOS Donbass, is one of three people detained in a broader investigation into alleged espionage on behalf of a foreign power. According to authorities, she is suspected of approaching executives at French companies to harvest information related to French economic interests—a crime that can carry up to a decade in prison.
The Russian Foreign Ministry, through spokeswoman Maria Zakharova, dismissed the allegations as “fabricated,” describing the case as symptomatic of what Moscow calls “spy mania sweeping across Europe.” Zakharova claimed that individuals are being targeted for holding views that differ from France’s official line.
Context: a spike in France‑Russia intelligence clashes
Novikova’s detention comes amid what French officials describe as an uptick in espionage and hybrid interference linked to Russia:
Mass detentions in Paris: In November 2025, French authorities arrested multiple individuals—including Novikova—suspected of working for Russian security services under the cover of a humanitarian organisation, part of an expanding probe into Russian intelligence networks.
Historic expulsions: France has a track record of counter‑espionage action against Russian operatives. In 2022, Paris expelled at least six Russian agents operating under diplomatic cover and declared them persona non grata after they were found working against French national interests.
Cyber and information threats: Paris has publicly accused Russian military intelligence of repeated cyberattacks targeting French ministries, defence firms and public institutions since at least 2021—a campaign seen by officials as part of Russia’s broader intelligence strategy in Europe.
Broader France‑Russia spy case: reciprocal accusations
The Novikova affair is mirrored by strains on the intelligence front involving France and Russia:
French researcher jailed in Moscow: French academic Laurent Vinatier, who worked for a Swiss NGO, has been detained in Russia since June 2024. He was initially convicted for failing to register as a “foreign agent” and now faces expanded espionage charges, prompting tense discussions between the French and Russian governments.
Espionage climate in Europe: The backdrop to these cases is a broader European environment where several countries, including France, Germany and others, have reported or acted against suspected Russian intelligence operations, both in cyberspace and through human agents.
Diplomatic fallout
Paris has not publicly commented on Russia’s call to free Novikova, but the case is likely to complicate diplomatic relations further, particularly as France continues to support Ukraine and counter what it views as Russian influence operations on its soil and beyond.
In summary, the Novikova case highlights deeper undercurrents of intelligence rivalry between France and Russia, encompassing legal battles, counter‑espionage actions and reciprocal accusations that reflect the broader geopolitical tensions stemming from Russia’s war in Ukraine. Photo by Tangopaso, Wikimedia commons.