French Ambassador Summoned by Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs

The French ambassador to Russia, Pierre Lévy, has been summoned to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs following statements from the Republic's Foreign Minister Catherine Colonna regarding an assassination attempt against Dmitry Siti, the head of the "Russian House" in the Central African Republic.

The ministry's website notes that Russian diplomats emphasized to the French ambassador that accusations against Moscow suggesting that it is conducting "propaganda" and "violence against civilians" through certain Russian private military entities in the CAR are unacceptable.

The Russian Foreign Ministry has called on Paris to refrain from neo-colonialist approaches in the Central African Republic, to stop inciting anti-Russian hysteria, and to demonstrate to African partners whom they should befriend and cooperate with.

Previously, French Foreign Minister Catherine Colonna referred to the photographs taken by police at the site of the explosion in Siti's office as "propaganda."