Paris prosecutors open investigation into Russian disinformation targeting 2027 presidential candidates

Paris prosecutors open interference inquiry

The Paris prosecutor's office announced on Tuesday, 18 August 2026, that its AC2 section for the protection of fundamental freedoms opened an official investigation on its own initiative into suspected Russian disinformation campaigns targeting contenders in the 2027 French presidential race. The inquiry specifically examines coordinated online destabilization operations directed at Horizons party candidate Édouard Philippe and Renaissance party leader Gabriel Attal, both of whom previously served as prime minister under President Emmanuel Macron. Judicial officials confirmed to Agence France-Presse that prosecutors took action prior to receiving formal complaints from the politicians' legal teams. This decision expands an earlier inquiry initiated in early August 2026 into similar foreign interference activities targeting Place Publique leader Raphaël Glucksmann, who is also viewed as a prospective presidential candidate.

Fabricated media and health claims

The disinformation operations relied on fabricated audiovisual content, forged articles, and social media distribution across X and TikTok to undermine public trust in the candidates. On 21 July, a manipulated video circulating on X incorporated the visual branding of established French news organizations to claim that Édouard Philippe, who publicly suffers from alopecia, had been diagnosed with a severe neurodegenerative disease. Gabriel Attal was targeted through parallel postings on X and TikTok that falsely depicted him as suffering from Parkinson's disease and alleged illicit drug use. In the case of Raphaël Glucksmann, the online campaign attacked his partner, journalist Léa Salamé, while also circulating a fabricated article that hijacked the identity of the independent French outlet Blast. That forged report falsely claimed Glucksmann had attempted to bribe several newsrooms in exchange for favorable media coverage during his presidential campaign.

Legal complaints and intelligence links

Following the spread of the fabricated claims, both Attal and Glucksmann submitted formal legal complaints to the French judiciary. Gabriel Attal lodged his complaint on 7 August 2026 through his attorneys, Sacha Ghozlan and Lucas Veil, citing foreign interference originating directly from Russian networks. Raphaël Glucksmann announced on 12 August 2026 that he had also filed a criminal complaint regarding foreign interference, making the declaration to reporters during a visit to the Aude department.

It is fundamental to say this simple thing: we cannot let Vladimir Putin's Russia manipulate the existential election for the French people that is the 2027 presidential election.

French investigators have focused their attention on the pro-Russian actor Storm-1516, a specialized influence network directly operated by the GRU, the military intelligence service of the Russian armed forces.

Campaign impact and regional precedent

A security source cited by French media noted that although these initial online operations remained relatively low in overall visibility, they constitute the first coordinated effort to directly target presidential contenders since the start of the 2027 election cycle. French intelligence and judicial authorities are monitoring the activities as potential precursors to broader foreign attempts to disrupt electoral integrity in France. The French investigation follows earlier election interference cases in Europe. In late 2024, the Romanian Constitutional Court took the step of annulling the first round of Romania's presidential election following suspicions of extensive Russian interference on TikTok that promoted far-right candidate Calin Georgescu.