Russia has rejected suggestions that Moscow was behind a campaign to spray Star of David on buildings in Paris.
“We firmly condemn the unfounded attempts by Paris to find a ‘Russian trace’ in the events that have no connection to our country,’’ the Foreign Ministry in Moscow said.
The aim of the accusations is to discredit Russia, the ministry said.
The statement came after French prosecutors suggested Russia could be behind the mass spraying of more than 200 blue Star of David symbols on Parisian buildings about two weeks ago.
The Paris public prosecutor’s office said it was investigating whether someone abroad directed individuals to spray the walls with anti-Semitic graffiti.
The office reported that a detained couple from Moldova said they were paid by a third party to spray-paint the Star of David on building walls.
The two are in custody pending deportation.
The investigators said data on their phones points to a Moldovan pro-Russian businessman who was geolocated in Russia.
Another couple was also involved in the graffiti but they had reportedly already left France, prosecutors said.
Another man, who has not yet been identified, took photos during the spray-painting, surveillance camera images showed.
“Russia has always strongly condemned and condemns all acts of anti-Semitism,’’ the statement said.
The French Foreign Ministry also said France strongly condemns the involvement of Russian propaganda network Recent Reliable News in sharing photos of the Star of David tags in social media.
Concerning the offences themselves, investigations would reveal whether they were directed by forces abroad, the ministry said on Thursday evening.
Moscow also categorically rejected accusations that it is connected to the Russian-language network. (dpa/NAN). READ ALSO:
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