Polyansky accused Macron of trying to silence protesters in France
The Russian Permanent Representative to the OSCE announced the use of force against schoolchildren and students at protests in Paris
Quick Look
- Russian Permanent Representative to the OSCE Dmitry Polyansky accused French President Emmanuel Macron of forcefully suppressing protests by students and schoolchildren.
- According to the diplomat, police are using batons and tear gas against minor protesters in Paris.
AI-generated summary
Why It Matters
In France, mass protests by students and schoolchildren are taking place, accompanied by clashes with the police.
VIENNA, Oct 8 - RIA Novosti. French President Emmanuel Macron is trying to forcefully silence student protesters in France; during the dispersal of protests, children are mercilessly beaten, said the Russian Permanent Representative to the OSCE Dmitry Polyansky.
“We do not set ourselves the goal of interfering in the internal affairs of France. However, for our part, we cannot idly watch how, during the dispersal of demonstrations in Paris, children - schoolchildren and students - are mercilessly beaten,” Polyansky said during a closed meeting of the OSCE Permanent Council; the text of the diplomat’s speech is available to RIA Novosti.
He emphasized that such atrocities are committed by the guards of the country, whose representatives always read morality to others with invariable ecstasy.
“There is a situation where French President Emmanuel Macron, with meager ratings (according to the latest polls, at the beginning of October 2026, Macron’s trust rating is at historically minimal levels - in the range of 16-19%), is trying to forcefully silence those who took to the streets in an attempt to reach the authorities, exercise the legal right to freedom of peaceful assembly and express their civic position,” the permanent representative said.
The day before, protests in Paris affected the University of Sciences Po; they escalated into a clash between demonstrators and law enforcement officers. According to BFMTV, the police used tear gas and batons.
Open Questions
- What is the official reaction of the French authorities to the accusations?
- Are there any confirmed reports of minor victims?
