French lawyer commented on the denial of visas to Izvestia journalists

The French authorities are purposefully trying to hinder relations with Russia by relentlessly waging a campaign at all levels: political, military and media. French lawyer Philippe de Veul told Izvestia on February 7, commenting on the denial of visas to two Izvestia journalists.

"There is a high-level political desire to hinder relations with Russia, saying that Russia is France's enemy, saying that France is fighting for values that Russia does not have, or fighting against Russian values, which is nonsense," he said.

According to the expert, decisions are made without the consent of the French people, and the arguments used against Russian journalists, namely that their presence threatens the security of France, are grotesque.

At the same time, the expert continued, Russia's retaliatory measures against the Le Monde journalist had some impact on the situation, but the main goal remained the same - to prevent the Russian press from coming to France.

"In France, it is quite obvious that the mainstream media is another channel of power," De Veul noted.

The specialist emphasized that in order for the situation to change, French President Emmanuel Macron must resign.

Earlier, Izvestia correspondent Nikolai Ivanov and cameraman Georgy Bekauri were denied visas to film a report on the French resistance to the 80th anniversary of the Victory in World War II. The refusal reported that "one or more EU states" considered them to pose "a threat to public order or internal security."

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