Russian Spy Worked in French Defense Ministry in 2017, Says Former Security Official

Bernard Bajolet, former director of the French General Directorate for External Security, revealed that a spy working for Russia operated within the French Ministry of Defense in 2017, during a program on "France 5" on Sunday evening. When questioned about reports indicating a Russian spy was working in the office of then-Defense Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian, who currently holds the position of Foreign Minister, Bajolet confirmed in the documentary about Russian President Vladimir Putin, "Indeed, when I was Director General of External Security, I informed the government." He added, "In recent years, we have said, 'This is all over; after the Cold War, we no longer have time to waste on spies that no longer exist... The priority is on terrorism issues.' But we see that espionage activities have never ceased, and the means employed by the Russians and Chinese, as well as others, including the Americans, have never been at the level they are today; let’s look at things as they are." The investigative news site "Mediapart" had previously disclosed this information, stating that a spy for the Russian military intelligence had recruited an informant within Jean-Yves Le Drian's office while he was Defense Minister under former President François Hollande.