Russian nationals among 4 people arrested in France over espionage investigation

PARIS (AP) — The leaders of a pro-Russia group in France behind a poster campaign declaring “Russia is not my enemy” have been taken into custody and are being held on suspicion of intelligence-gathering for a foreign power.

The SOS Donbass group confirmed the arrest of its founder, Anna Novikova, in a Telegram post. The group's president, Vincent Perfetti, is also facing charges, his lawyer said. The Paris prosecutor's office identified them on Wednesday only as Anna N. and Vincent P., saying that both are in detention.

The breakup of the alleged intelligence-gathering operation came as French President Emmanuel Macron warned about Russian destabilization efforts targeting France, a key backer of Ukraine in the nearly four-year war.

Macron said this week that Russia is waging “hybrid wars” against Europe, including by employing proxies.

“It pays people, mercenaries. It has pushed people to carry out destabilization activities in our countries,” he said.

In videos posted by SOS Donbass, Novikova and Perfetti have both promoted posters that are downloadable on the group's website and which show a handshake in the Russian colors and the words, “Russia is not my enemy.”

The prosecutor’s office said that the pair face preliminary charges of criminal conspiracy, intelligence contacts with a foreign power and gathering information for a foreign power — crimes each punishable by up to 10 years in prison as well as large fines. It didn't name the foreign power.

In a text message to The Associated Press, Perfetti's lawyer called the accusations “absurd” and “a worrying shift toward the criminalization of pro-Russian opinions.”

“This isn't an espionage case,” said the lawyer, David Bocobza. “It's a case of poster-stickers.”

The SOS Donbass website says Novikova founded the group in 2022 after visiting the Donbas, the name that Russians use for the Donetsk and Luhansk regions of eastern Ukraine that Moscow's forces have largely occupied.

The organization describes itself as a humanitarian nongovernmental organization that collects funds and distributes aid to Donbas residents “who have been bombarded by the Ukrainian army with NATO weapons.” It also says that it wants to “build a bridge of peace between Europe and Russia.”

According to the Paris prosecutor's office, Novikova is a 40-year-old French-Russian national who was born in Russia. It said the General Directorate of Internal Security, or DGSI, France’s domestic secret service that specializes in counterespionage, has been investigating her activities.

She is “suspected of having approached executives from various French companies in order to obtain information related to French economic interests,” the prosecutor’s office said in a statement.

SOS Donbass said Novikova was arrested in Paris last week.

According to the Paris prosecutor’s office, two other men were also taken into custody. It identified them as Vyacheslav P. and Bernard F.

It said Vyacheslav P. is a 40-year-old Russian who is alleged to have fixed pro-Russia posters onto the Arc de Triomphe in September. The posters showed a Russian soldier and the words “say thank you to the victorious" Soviet soldier.

Vyacheslav P. faces preliminary charges of criminal conspiracy and property damage to serve a foreign power.

He remains in detention, was identified in video footage as being the person who stuck posters on the Paris landmark, and had contacts by phone with Novikova, according to the prosecutor’s office.

Preliminary charges of criminal conspiracy and intelligence contacts with a foreign power have been filed against Bernard F., a 58-year-old French national who isn't in detention, but is barred from leaving France and must report weekly to authorities.

French government, intelligence and military officials say Russia has increasingly been targeting France with cyberattacks, disinformation and other destabilization efforts — tactics also employed against other countries backing Ukraine.

Mapping by the AP of the disruption campaign has documented dozens of incidents across Europe since the start of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine on Feb. 24, 2022.

Parts of the Holy-Trinity Russian orthodox Cathedral and the adjoining culture center, right, are seen in Paris, Wednesday, Nov. 26, 2025. (AP Photo/Thomas Padilla)

FILE - A view of the headquarters of Euroclear in Brussels, on Oct. 23, 2025. (AP Photo/Geert Vanden Wijngaert, File)

The Holy-Trinity Russian orthodox Cathedral and the adjoining culture center, right, are seen next to the Eiffel Tower in Paris, Wednesday, Nov. 26, 2025. (AP Photo/Thomas Padilla)

The Holy-Trinity Russian orthodox Cathedral and the adjoining culture center, right, are seen next to the Eiffel Tower in Paris, Wednesday, Nov. 26, 2025. (AP Photo/Thomas Padilla)

ST. LOUIS (AP) — Francisco Lindor made a couple of uncharacteristic mental mistakes Wednesday, and the second one certainly cost the New York Mets.

The star shortstop lost track of the outs on defense in the opening inning and got picked off first base in the sixth — right before teammate Juan Soto homered. The slumping Mets stranded 11 runners and lost 2-1 to the St. Louis Cardinals in 11 innings.

Lindor reached base in the sixth on a one-out error by third baseman Nolan Gorman, but the leadoff hitter wandered too far off the bag and was fiddling with his gloves when he was easily picked off by St. Louis starter Matthew Liberatore.

“I should have been better,” Lindor said.

Mets manager Carlos Mendoza credited the Cardinals with making a good move to nab Lindor.

“They got us there,” Mendoza said. “He was going to go. They got us with a quick step-off there. I wouldn’t consider that one there a mental mistake. He was trying to get some momentum there and being aggressive.”

Three pitches later, Soto hit a soaring fly that landed just over the right-field fence inside the foul pole for a solo home run.

In the first inning, Lindor failed to execute a potential double play when he forgot how many outs there were.

With one out and Iván Herrera on first, left-handed-hitting Alec Burleson hit a grounder to Lindor at shortstop. Positioned near second base, Lindor touched the bag but then headed toward the dugout instead of throwing to first to retire Burleson as well.

By the time Lindor realized his mistake, it was too late. New York starter Freddy Peralta struck out the next batter to end the inning.

“I forgot the outs,” Lindor said. “I made a mistake that probably cost Peralta an extra inning because he had to throw more pitches after that. It’s inexcusable. He probably could have gone six, seven innings. I just forgot the outs. I realized there was just one out. Honest mistake.”

Mendoza didn’t cover for Lindor.

“There’s no excuses,” Mendoza said. “He’ll be the first one that tells you that. That can’t happen. He knows. He was pretty (ticked) when he came in. Peralta did a good job picking him up and finishing that inning.”

New York (3-3) went 1 for 29 with runners in scoring position during the three-game series, including 0 for 11 in the finale.

“Hats off to them,” Lindor said. “They executed their pitches. They played better. I've got to be better, and go out there and win the next series.”

The Mets have totaled 12 runs in their last five games after scoring 11 on opening day against Pittsburgh.

“Good hitters right now for a couple of games, they’re not getting it done,” Mendoza said.

Lindor remains optimistic the Mets will put everything together.

“I still believe in what we have,” he said. “We have a good team. We are a couple of pitches away from continuing to get the ball rolling on our side.”

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb

New York Mets' pitcher Freddy Peralta throws during the first inning of a baseball game against the St. Louis Cardinals, Wednesday, April 1, 2026, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/LG Patterson)

New York Mets' Juan Soto hits a home run in the sixth inning of a baseball game against the St. Louis Cardinals Wednesday, April 1, 2026, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/LG Patterson)

St. Louis Cardinal teammates surround Masyn Winn after he hit the game winning hit during the eleventh inning of a baseball game against the New York Mets Wednesday, April 1, 2026, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/LG Patterson)

New York Mets' right fielder Carson Benge misses a fly ball during the eleventh inning of a baseball game which allowed the St. Louis Cardinals to win the game Wednesday, April 1, 2026, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/LG Patterson)

New York Mets' right fielder Carson Benge dives but can't make the catch on a fly ball which allowed the St. Louis Cardinals to score the winning run in the 11th inning of a baseball game, Wednesday, April 1, 2026, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/LG Patterson)