France Probing Russia's Alleged Involvement In Yellow Vest Protests - Foreign Minister

MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 09th December, 2018) The French Secretariat-General for National Defense and Security (SGDSN) is investigating the reports on Russia's alleged meddling in the so-called yellow vest rallies that recently raged in France, the country's foreign minister, Jean-Yves Le Drian, said Sunday.

The Times newspaper said Saturday that hundreds of allegedly Russia-linked Twitter accounts were found fueling the yellow vest rallies by posting pictures of injured protesters and retweeting posts connected to the unrest.

"I have heard these rumors. The Secretariat-General for National Defense and Security is currently investigating them.

We will see what the results of this investigation will be. I won't give my judgment on anything unless the facts are established," the minister told the RTL broadcaster.

France has been facing a wave of mass protests since mid-November, when the so-called yellow vest protesters � named after the obligatory attribute of French drivers � took to the streets to rally against rising fuel prices and a planned hike in tax on diesel and carbon fuels.

The rallies intensified earlier this week, with over 1,700 detained on Saturday alone.

Russia has repeatedly denied interference in domestic affairs of other states.