Four Bulgarians Jailed for Desecrating Jewish Memorial in Suspected Russian Plot

Post by : Raina Nasser

Paris, Oct 31, 2025 — A French court sentenced four Bulgarian nationals on Friday for desecrating a Jewish memorial in Paris last year, in what prosecutors believe was a foreign-backed operation potentially orchestrated by Russian intelligence.

The Paris criminal court handed two-year prison terms to Georgi Filipov and Kiril Milushev, identified as the direct perpetrators. Meanwhile, Nikolay Ivanov and Mircho Angelov, regarded as the masterminds behind the act, received sentences of four and three years respectively, though Angelov remains at large. All four were also banned from entering France for life.

This high-profile trial marked the first of its kind in France, shining a spotlight on a series of similar acts suspected to be foreign attempts to destabilize French society by exploiting existing social divisions. The desecration occurred amid heightened tensions over the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas in late 2023.

The vandalism targeted the “Wall of the Righteous,” a memorial honoring 3,900 people who protected Jews during Nazi-occupied France. The wall was defaced with red handprints, a symbol that quickly ignited public outrage. Additional red handprints were found around central Paris.

Security footage captured Filipov and Milushev applying stencils on the memorial, and investigators traced their movements after the incident, revealing a swift escape via bus to Belgium and flight back to Bulgaria. During the trial, the accused distanced themselves from ideological motives, with Filipov denying any neo-Nazi ties despite previous social media posts and tattoos.

French prosecutors emphasized that foreign interference in the attack was “indisputable” and aimed at manipulating public opinion to deepen societal fractures. This incident is one of nine similar suspected foreign-backed acts recorded in France. The French authority Viginum highlighted that Russia-linked actors amplified the event on social media platforms.

The case underscores growing concerns in Europe about covert operations aimed at destabilizing democratic societies through targeted cultural and social provocations. The sentencing sends a clear message that France will not tolerate such acts that threaten its social fabric and national unity.

As tensions in Europe continue to simmer amid geopolitical conflicts, this case stands as a stark reminder of the emerging challenges democracies face from covert foreign interference campaigns.