Russia Demands Proof for Spanish Claims on Migrant Crisis

Russia's Foreign Ministry spokesperson, Maria Zakharova, has publicly challenged Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez's accusations that Russia was involved in the migrant crisis in Ceuta. Zakharova stated on Tuesday that any accusations require concrete, verifiable facts, including figures, dates, and names, which Spain has failed to provide. She criticized Madrid for making public statements without first using diplomatic channels, such as the Russian embassy or international structures, to present their evidence. Zakharova asserted that Moscow is prepared to examine any materials if Spain officially submits them, but until then, the accusations remain unsubstantiated.

Sanchez had previously accused both Russia and Israel of conducting a disinformation campaign via social media, which he linked to the migrant influx into Ceuta. He suggested this campaign was connected to Spain's foreign policy regarding Ukraine and Gaza and was orchestrated by entities linked to Russia, Israel, and an international far-right network exploiting migration issues. Israel's Foreign Minister, Gideon Saar, vehemently denied these claims, calling them "brazen lies" and accusing Sanchez of deflecting from his own "shameful failure" in managing the country.

A report cited by the Financial Times, based on European analysts' findings regarding the Ceuta crisis, indicated that Russian entities did spread disinformation. However, this activity reportedly began after the enclave was already overwhelmed by migrants, with the goal of exacerbating divisions within the European Union. The report did not find evidence of similar false claims originating from Israeli commentators. The migrant crisis in Ceuta occurred on July 30-31, with Spanish media reporting over 70,000 people crossing the border in two days, resulting in numerous deaths and thousands remaining in the Spanish enclave.