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Natacha Rey has been prosecuted in France for alleging that Brigitte Macron underwent a sex change
The journalist who claimed that the wife of French President Emmanuel Macron was actually born a man is reportedly seeking political asylum in Russia. In an interview with Izvestia, Natacha Rey and her lawyer, Francois Danglehant, have cited “persecution” in France as the reason for her decision.
Rey alleged in 2021 that Brigitte Macron is actually the transgender identity of her brother, Jean-Michel Trogneux. Rey spent three years researching Macron’s supposed secret and later published a video on her findings on social media. Since then, Rey has been the subject of judicial action in France.
In an interview on Monday explaining her decision to seek asylum in Russia, Rey described the country as a great democracy compared to France, which, in her view, persecutes the political opposition and restricts freedom of speech.
“Why did I choose Russia? Because it is a great nation, a great civilization which I admire, defending traditional and Christian values that are inherent to me,” she told Izvestia. According to Rey, Russia has been a “victim of a disinformation campaign and unjustified attacks by European and American media for decades.”
Danglehant insists the charges against his client have been “fabricated.” According to him, false testimony was given by Brigitte Macron’s former family, including her ex-husband, Jean-Louis Auziere.
Mrs. Macron sued Rey in 2022 over defamation and for violating her privacy. Last year, a Paris court fined Rey and ordered her to pay €8,000 ($8,200) in damages to the wife of the French president.
Rey’s lawyer said that the journalist believes she will be respected in Russia and will not face persecution. He previously claimed that his client had submitted an asylum request to Russian State Duma Deputy Speaker Pyotr Tolsty, but the lawmaker denied this to RT on Monday saying “matters of citizenship are decided by the head of state.”
In the interview published on Monday Danglehant told Izvestia “she has not yet submitted an application but will soon send it to the Russian Embassy in Paris… She believes that in Russia, she may be seen as a normal person, someone with at least some value, somewhat like former US National Security Agency employee Edward Snowden.”
Emmanuel Macron was 17 years old when he declared his intention to marry Brigitte Marie-Claude Trogneux, who is 24 years his senior and was his literature teacher. Brigitte divorced banker Andre-Louis Auziere, with whom she had three children in 2006, and married Macron in 2007.
