'French intelligence blames Russia for bedbug crisis'
It has been alleged that 'Moscow is producing fake news to create panic' regarding the outbreak that has made headlines in the French capital with dozens of bedbug infestation reports.
12punto
An interesting development has occurred regarding the bedbug outbreak that has marked the last few months in France. The unusual increase in bedbug infestations observed in the capital Paris and other cities in France in recent weeks has been 'linked to Russia' following an allegation.
Independent Turkish reported that, according to a news report by the France-based RMC radio, it is claimed that French intelligence believes Russia is attempting to create panic with the bedbug outbreak.
Intelligence officials, stated that they suspect Russia is pursuing a strategy of spreading fear due to fake news circulating on the internet and attributed to major French media outlets.
The fact-checking unit of the France-based news agency AFP identified two suspicious news reports.
''INFESTATION IN THE HEADLINES''
In one of the reports attributed to the regional newspaper La Montagne, it is claimed that effective pesticides against bedbugs cannot be produced due to the embargo imposed on Russian chemicals.
The newspaper La Montagne stated that such a report was never published. In another piece of fake news attributed to the left-leaning newspaper Liberation, it was suggested that the increase in the number of bedbugs was caused by Ukrainian refugees.
French Foreign Minister Catherine Colonna stated in a statement a few months ago that such fake news, which contains anti-Ukraine content in particular, is produced byRussian troll factories.
One of the most talked-about topics in France in recent months has been the bedbug epidemic, which has emerged especially in large cities. Reports that insects are infesting homes, subways, and cinemas frequently appear in the headlines of the French press.