Russian Arrested in Paris for Alleged Sabotage Spoke to the FSB from Varna

Kirill Gryaznov, a Russian national, has drawn significant attention due to his recent actions and subsequent arrest in Paris. On May 7, Gryaznov's attempt to travel to Paris was thwarted when he became heavily intoxicated during a layover in Istanbul, resulting in his removal from the flight and blacklisting. He then continued to Bulgaria by car, where his drunken behavior led him to boast about a secret mission to Paris. Gryaznov claimed he was on a covert operation and showed a certificate he asserted proved his connections to the special services.

His statements and behavior prompted an investigation by "The Insider", a Russian-language opposition website, which uncovered that Gryaznov was arrested on July 21 in his Paris apartment on rue Saint-Denis. Reports from "The Insider", "Spiegel" magazine, and "Le Mond" newspaper revealed that the search of his apartment yielded "materials of diplomatic importance," though the specifics of these materials were not disclosed. Gryaznov was placed in preliminary detention and charged with "intelligence for a foreign power with the aim of provoking hostilities in France," a crime that could lead to a 30-year prison sentence.

Gryaznov, a cook by profession, is known to some in France as an alcoholic prone to nonsensical behavior. Viktor, a French acquaintance, described Gryaznov as someone who despises Putin and avoided military service. However, documents reviewed by "Le Mond" show that in 2019, a plane ticket for Gryaznov to Moscow was purchased by Vladimir Bondarchuk, a former FSB inspector.

Connections between Gryaznov and Russian intelligence might be linked to his brother, Dmitry Vladimirovich Gryaznov, who holds a significant position within the Parliamentary Assembly of the...