A close associate of French presidential candidate Francois Fillon has come under fire for attending a gala dinner in Moscow on Sunday.
Thierry Mariani, a member of France’s National Assembly, had been a vocal supporter for Fillon in the run-up to primaries for the French Republican party on Sunday. Fillon won in the election against his rival Alain Juppe, securing 66 percent of the vote.
Mariani’s presence in Moscow taps into French fears that Fillon is being backed as a Kremlin-friendly candidate.
Russia at the heart of Paris: Read more on how France's presidential elections are set to be a win-win for the Kremlin.
Russian state media have previously praised Fillon as “a friend of Russia,” while the former Prime Minister has been described as “outstanding” by Putin himself.
Marine Le Pen, the French presidential candidate for the far-right Front National, has already admitted to receiving money from Russia to fund her campaign.
Mariani defended his trip to the Russian capital, claiming on Twitter that he was in Moscow to speak with French voters in the city.
"How is Putin?" one Twitter user asked. "Is he also taking part in the primaries with his rubles?"
"Be more original!", Marianai replied. "I am elected by French people living abroad and French people in Russia are my electorate- so it's normal!"
Mariani, who has been dubbed “the voice of Russia” by French newspaper Le Monde, previously triggered condemnation in Paris when he visited the Russian-annexed Crimean peninsula in 2015.
A Message from The Moscow Times:
Dear readers,
We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."
These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.
We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.
Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.
By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.
Remind me later.
