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Russia Urges France to Release Woman Arrested for Suspected Espionage
Published by Global Banking & Finance Review®
Posted on April 1, 2026
1 min readLast updated: April 1, 2026
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Quick Summary
Russia on April 1, 2026 called on France to release Anna Novikova, a Russian‑French national detained since late 2025 on suspicion of espionage, calling the charges fabricated and criticizing what it called European “spy mania.”
Russia urges France to release woman arrested for suspected espionage
Detention of Anna Novikova and Espionage Allegations
MOSCOW, April 1 (Reuters) - Russia urged France on Wednesday to release Anna Novikova, a Russian-French national detained last year on suspicion of espionage.
Background on Anna Novikova
Novikova, the founder of a humanitarian organisation which said it provided aid to people living in Russian-controlled parts of Ukraine, is one of three people who the Paris prosecutor’s office said in November were suspected of spying on behalf of a foreign power.
French Prosecutors' Claims
French prosecutors said she was suspected of approaching executives of French companies to obtain information about French economic interests.
Russian Response
Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova told reporters that Novikova was being held on a false pretext in a case that exemplified the "spy mania sweeping across Europe".
Official Statement from Russia
"We insist that the repression against individuals whose only crime is to express an opinion that differs from the official line in Paris must cease immediately," Zakharova said.
Reporting Credits
(Reporting by Dmitry Antonov; Editing by Mark Trevelyan and Andrew Heavens)
Key Takeaways
- •Anna Novikova, 40‑year‑old dual national and founder of SOS Donbass, was arrested in France in November 2025 on suspicion of gathering economic intelligence for a foreign power, according to the Paris prosecutor and DGSI (apnews.com).
- •Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova dismissed the charges as fabricated and characterized them as part of a broader wave of “spy mania” across Europe (apnews.com).
- •Novikova has denied wrongdoing, citing her humanitarian aims; she reportedly received letters of support from multiple countries while in detention (dailyexcelsior.com).
References
Frequently Asked Questions about Russia urges France to release woman arrested for suspected espionage
1Who is Anna Novikova?
Anna Novikova is a Russian-French national detained in France on suspicion of espionage.
2Why was Anna Novikova arrested in France?
She was arrested on suspicion of espionage, although Russia claims the charges are fabricated.
3What is Russia's response to Novikova's detention?
Russia has urged France to release Anna Novikova, calling the charges an example of 'spy mania' in Europe.
4Who commented on Anna Novikova's case from Russia?
Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova commented that the charges were fabricated.
5What broader issue does Russia highlight in this case?
Russia suggests the case exemplifies a wider trend of 'spy mania' sweeping across Europe.
