DISINFO: Russia will bring freedom and democracy to France, like it did in 1814
SUMMARY
Former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev proposes saving France and restoring freedom and democracy as Russians already did in 1814
A court in France has found National Unity leader Marine Le Pen and eight other MEPs "guilty" of wasting EU funds. The main point of this hastily concocted decision is to eliminate the leader of one of France’s largest parties in the run-up to the 2027 presidential election.
The Fifth French Republic has finally discredited itself. The people of this country, judging by everything, should think about the institution of the Sixth Republic. And if not comes out, then can be recall great date - March 31, 1814, when the Russian army of Alexander I at the head of the Allied troops solemnly entered Paris and offered freedom. Tsarist Russia in a direct sense brought then on the bayonets democracy to France. Glorious experience! Marine Le Pen has only to wait for the Cossacks of the Russian Federation.
RESPONSE
This is a recurring pro-Kremlin narrative aiming to undermine democracy and cast doubt on the functioning of democratic institutions in Europe, aiming at undermining confidence in Western democracies using intimidation and historical revisionism.
This claims is made in the context of the verdict in a court case in France involving Marine Le Pen. On 31 March 2025, she was banned from running for political office in France for five years after being found guilty of embezzling European Union funds.
The case involves the misuse of European Parliament funds for party staff, which has been subject to legal scrutiny. The judiciary's independence is a cornerstone of French democracy, and such cases are decided based on legal merit rather than political agendas. The judicial process adhered strictly to the rule of law, and the verdict was the result of a thorough investigation and trial, with Le Pen and her associates given full rights to defence. Moreover, there are still two levels of appeal that remain available to the defendants.
In 1814 the Tsarist Empire of Alexander I could not be called a democracy but a tyranny where serfdom was the rule. The French empire was not either a democracy, but was ruled by an unified code and a constitution, one important step in the construction of rule of law in France.
Today alike it cannot be considered that Russia can bring Freedom and Democracy in France since the standards are very different. Freedom House compares countries: Russia is labelled as a non-free country with a score of 4 for Political Rights and 8 for Civil Liberties making a total of 12/100. While Frances is a free country with scores at 38 and 51 for a total of 89/100.
Read also related cases such as: Romania is under EU tyranny, Democracy is the perfect dictatorship, There is no democracy in Europe, Western countries do not respect freedom of speech and democracy, Russia has taken enormous steps towards democracy and openness.