In the early hours of May 14, 2024, the Paris Holocaust Memorial—a solemn tribute to thousands who risked their lives to save Jews during World War II—became the scene of a bold and unsettling act of vandalism. Roughly 500 blood-red handprints were spray-painted across the memorial’s wall and nearby neighborhoods in the Marais district, a gesture that initially left Parisians both confused and alarmed. As the city awoke to the sight, the meaning and motivation behind the act quickly became a subject of national debate.
For many, the timing of the incident seemed to echo the rising tensions in Europe, especially as the war in Gaza fueled a spike in antisemitic acts. But as the investigation unfolded, French intelligence services would reveal a far more complex—and international—story. According to AP and court documents cited by RFI and Ukrinform, the graffiti was not just a random act of hate or protest. Instead, it was part of what authorities described as a Russian destabilization campaign, an effort to use paid proxies to divide public opinion, stoke social tensions, and spread disinformation throughout France.
By November 1, 2025, the Paris Criminal Court delivered its verdict. Four Bulgarian nationals—Georgi Filipov, Kiril Milushev, Nikolay Ivanov, and the alleged ringleader Mircho Angelov—were each handed prison sentences ranging from two to four years for their roles in the vandalism. Filipov and Milushev, who acknowledged their involvement, received two-year sentences. Ivanov, accused of recruiting the others, was given four years. Angelov, who remains at large, was sentenced in absentia to three years. In addition, all four men were banned from entering France for life, a rare but telling measure underscoring the gravity of their actions.
The court’s decision was clear: while foreign interference had indeed played a role, this “does not in any manner alleviate individual responsibility.” The desecration of a site so deeply entwined with the memory of the Holocaust, the judges noted, was a crime of profound seriousness. Plaintiffs in the case included the Paris Holocaust Memorial itself and the League Against Racism and Antisemitism, organizations that have long fought to preserve the memory of the Shoah and combat hate crimes.
During the trial, Filipov and Milushev expressed regret, telling the court they had been paid by Angelov to paint and film the red hands. Ivanov, meanwhile, denied any direct role in the graffiti or any pro-Russian affiliations, stating his involvement was limited to purchasing travel tickets and booking a Paris hotel for the others at Angelov’s request. Still, the court found the evidence against him compelling enough to impose the harshest sentence of the group.
French intelligence services, as reported by AP and Ukrinform, linked the red hand graffiti directly to a Russian strategy of using paid intermediaries to stir unrest in Western societies. “Foreign interference aimed to divide French society, but this in no way removes the individual responsibility of the offenders,” the court emphasized. The “Red Hands” symbol itself carries a heavy historical weight. It was first used during a pogrom in Baghdad in June 1941 to mark Jewish homes and resurfaced in 2000 as a symbol of retribution after the killing of two Israeli soldiers in Ramallah. Its reappearance in Paris was thus not just a random choice, but a calculated move to evoke painful memories and inflame tensions.
This case, however, is only the latest in a string of bizarre and troubling incidents in France over the past two years—many of which authorities have also linked to suspected Russian interference. In October 2023, just after the Israel-Hamas war began, stencils of blue Stars of David appeared on Paris buildings. French authorities accused Russian security services of orchestrating the campaign, and two Moldovans were detained and deported. Then in June 2024, five coffins referencing Ukraine appeared at the foot of the Eiffel Tower, coinciding with a visit from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Three men from Bulgaria, Germany, and Ukraine were suspected, and warrants were issued for their arrest. Shortly after, more unusual graffiti and messages referencing Ukraine appeared as Zelenskyy met with then-U.S. President Joe Biden in Paris. Three more Moldovans were detained in connection with those acts.
These incidents, according to AP, RFI, and Ukrinform, form part of a broader pattern seen across Europe in recent years. Governments have accused Russia of engaging in a campaign of sabotage, paying individuals to commit acts ranging from vandalism and arson to attempted bombings. The aim, authorities say, is not just to damage physical property but to undermine trust, sow confusion, and deepen divisions within European societies. Russia, for its part, has consistently denied these accusations.
The Paris Holocaust Memorial vandalism stands out not only for its audacity but for the symbolism of the site itself. The wall, engraved with the names of 2,693 people who protected or saved Jews during World War II, is a powerful reminder of both the horrors of the Holocaust and the courage of those who resisted it. To deface such a site is, as the court noted, an attack not just on history but on the values of tolerance and remembrance that underpin French society.
The court’s ruling also sends a message about the limits of blaming external actors for domestic crimes. While foreign interference may be real and dangerous, personal accountability remains paramount. As the court stated in its decision, “foreign interference aimed at dividing the French society but that does not in any manner alleviate individual responsibility.” The message is clear: those who carry out such acts, regardless of who pays them or why, will be held to account.
For many in France and beyond, the case has become a stark reminder of the vulnerabilities that open societies face in an age of hybrid warfare and disinformation. As the plaintiffs and the broader public reflect on the events, the hope is that vigilance, resilience, and a commitment to truth will prevail over those who seek to divide and destabilize.
