A preliminary investigation was opened in Monaco and entrusted to the Principality’s police after filing a complaint against the online questioning of several relatives of Prince AlbertValery HACHE

A preliminary investigation was opened in Monaco and sent to the Principality’s police after filing a criminal complaint against the Internet accusation of several relatives of Prince Albert, we learned Thursday from the Monegasque prosecutor’s office.

For ten days or so, websites given abroad, including a site called “Les Dossiers du Rocher”, have denounced the practices of “Monegasque personalities, politicians and influential businessmen”, with the ultimate goal of ” manipulate and influence the institutions of Monaco in their own interests “, explained Thursday the daily Monaco Matin (Nice-Matin group).

Didier Linotte, president of the Supreme Court of the Principality, Laurent Anselmi, government advisor-Minister of External Relations, as well as two relatives of Prince Albert II, his lawyer Thierry Lacoste and Claude Palmero, the administrator of his goods.

The various sites, which take the form of fake media, are hosted in Iceland and the United States according to a source familiar with the matter. Via their publications, they question “the probity and loyalty” of the four men, the accusations being then relayed on social networks by accounts created for this operation.

The investigation was opened after the filing of a criminal complaint in Monaco by Me Marie-Alix Canu-Bernard, lawyer for the four people concerned, in particular for “violation of correspondence” and “violation of professional secrecy”. The lawyer filed “additional complaints due to new broadcasts,” she told AFP on Thursday.

In addition, civil complaints were filed Wednesday in Paris, in particular for “defamation”, “false accusations” and “slanderous accusations”, we informed to Me Luc Brossollet, who defends Mr. Lacoste, while his partner Olivier d’Antin defends Mr. Linotte. Regarding Mr. Lacoste, “another complaint will be filed tomorrow (Friday) for violation of correspondence and hacking,” said Mr. Brossollet.

The Prince’s Palace, contacted by AFP, did not give an official reaction, referring to the interview granted by Prince Albert in Monaco-Matin, in which he condemned a “defamatory and anonymous campaign of rumors that targets several servants of the Principality “.

According to a source familiar with the matter, this campaign aims to “destabilize the Principality and take control of the Rock” and to “prevent a series of appointments and a government reshuffle” envisaged at the end of November, just after the National Day on November 19.

On this occasion, according to the same source, Prince Albert would like to “part ways with old local politicians in order to thoroughly improve the government team and bring out new talents”.