Vandalism at French Embassy in Moscow: controversial fresco raises tensions

The French embassy in Moscow was the target of acts of vandalism this Thursday, with the appearance of a provocative fresco on its premises, worsening diplomatic tensions between France and Russia against the backdrop of the Ukrainian conflict.

A deliberate act of vandalism:

A fresco comprised of three skulls on black crepe and marked with a “Z” – symbol of Russian intervention in Ukraine – was shown on the walls of the French embassy in the heart of Moscow. This act carried out anonymously, was quickly reported by the RIA Novosti press agency, depicting a marked decline in Franco-Russian relations.

Tense diplomatic context:

This provocation comes in an already challenging context, marked by the summoning of the French ambassador, Pierre Levy, by the Russian authorities on April 12. The embassy, which had formerly celebrated Franco-Soviet friendship with pictures of the Normandy Niémen squadron, refused to comment following this incident.

Other similar incidents:

This is not the first time that the French embassy has been targeted. Two months ago, a caricature of Emmanuel Macron as a servant of Volodymyr Zelensky was published nearby. More broadly, other diplomatic representations of nations supporting Ukraine, described as “unfriendly” by Russia, have suffered similar acts. The embassies of the United States and those of Sweden and Britain were likewise targeted, and European Union diplomats were disturbed by offensive montages displayed in public.

Security and surveillance:

Although diplomatic holdings are normally placed under the guard of the Russian police, authorities seem to turn a blind eye to these acts of vandalism, raising questions regarding the effectiveness and impartiality of official surveillance.