Valery Fal'kov discussed the arrest of Anna Novikova in France with… (новиков · юнеско · анна)
Valery Fal'kov discussed the arrest of Anna Novikova in France with the head of UNESCO. Russian Minister of Science and Higher Education Valery Fal'kov met with UNESCO General Director Khalid Al-Anani to discuss the situation regarding the arrest of Anna Novikova, founder of the humanitarian organization SOS Donbas, in France.
Consensus
- Valery Falkov met with UNESCO Director-General Khaled al-Anani at UNESCO's headquarters in Paris.
- Anna Novikova, founder of SOS Donbass, was arrested in France in November 2025.
- Novikova is being held under arrest and has been denied release on bail by the Paris court.
- The French authorities accuse Novikova and her organization of espionage and illegal activities benefiting Russia.
- Russia considers Novikova a victim of persecution and discrimination.
Points of divergence
- Novikova was arrested in November 2025 on charges of spying, and she has been under arrest since then. — kommersant
- In November 2025, three members of SOS Donbass were detained, including Novikova; the most serious charge involves placing an inflammatory poster on the Arc de Triomphe, which French authorities classify as damage to a protected site in favor of a foreign state. — vesti
- Novikova created SOS Donbass in 2021 to assist residents of Donbass; her organization was allegedly used for intelligence gathering and meetings with Russian intelligence officers. — kommersant
- The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Russia, through spokesperson Maria Zakharova, stated on April 1 that the Russian foreign ministry and embassy in Paris would do everything possible to secure Novikova's release. — vesti
Coverage (2 sources)
- Falikov discussed with UNESCO head the arrest of Anna Novikova in France — Коммерсантъ
- Fal'kov discussed with UNESCO the detention of SOS Donbass founder Novikova — Вести