Benjamin Haddad: “We must strengthen the means of combating the Wagner group”

A cross-party draft resolution calling on France and the European Union to designate the Russian private paramilitary group Wagner as a terrorist organization is due to be voted without a hitch in the National Assembly on Tuesday, May 9. Such a classification, explains MP from Paris Benjamin Haddad (Renaissance), president of the France-Ukraine friendship group that carries the text, will allow targeting the financial support of the entire galaxy of Yevgeny Prigozhin, the head of the company.

What is the use of officially registering the Wagner group as a “terrorist”?

BENJAMIN HADDAD. There are two goals. The first, political, is to confirm the nature of this group, which contributes to instability. Second, acquire stronger control tools. The classification will allow, together with our American allies, to allocate funds to cut off the financial flows that irrigate the company, to put pressure on the institutions, companies, banks that work with them: to be inspired by the legislation on the association of criminals at the European level.

Is Wagner dangerous for France?

Yes. We know that Wagner is part of a global policy of fighting against democratic values ​​and against the interests of Western countries: this is not a simple group of mercenaries attracted by the lure of profit. The group made France their number one enemy in Francophone Africa. Intervention attempts were seen during the 2017 presidential campaign, and France is regularly targeted by cyberattacks, most often linked to Russia.

What responses should be given to these attempts at destabilization?

There are several. Supporting Ukraine through the supply of weapons is one of them. The Military Programming Act provides for an increase in cybersecurity and intelligence resources. Finally, at the political level, we are campaigning to strengthen the instruments at the European level. Lithuania adopted a resolution on this issue, the US Senate also held a debate on this topic. I think that if France votes for this resolution, other European parliaments will follow.