Three men have been charged, on Friday, April 11, suspected of being involved in the kidnapping on April 29, 2024, of Algerian influencer and regime opponent Amir Boukhors, known as «Amir DZ,» a source close to the case told franceinfo on Friday. These three men have been provisionally incarcerated, according to the National Anti-Terrorism Prosecutor’s Office (Pnat).
They are being prosecuted for arrest, kidnapping, arbitrary detention or kidnapping followed by release on the seventh day in connection with a terrorist enterprise, as well as for participating in a terrorist criminal association with the aim of preparing a crime, the Pnat specifies.
The influencer’s lawyer, Eric Plouvier, also confirmed on franceinfo that one of the suspects holds a «diplomatic passport from an Algerian consular representation,» although he asserts that it is «difficult to know precisely his functions at this stage.»
Algeria «has resorted to violent action on French territory» to «neutralize» regime opponent Amir Boukhors, his lawyer stated on franceinfo. The influencer had been subjected to «two serious attacks, one in 2022 and another on the evening of April 29, 2024,» Eric Plouvier also told AFP. The investigation, initially opened by the Créteil prosecutor’s office, was taken over by the Pnat in February. Selon l’avocat, ce changement de juridiction et l’ouverture d’une information judiciaire montrent que l’Algérie a mené une action violente sur le sol français, portant atteinte à la vie, ce qui constitue une violation de la souveraineté de la France et des conventions internationales. Il affirme que les faits du 29 avril 2024 sont une affaire d’État et que de telles actions violentes compromettent la souveraineté de la France et la sécurité des réfugiés politiques, dont Amir Boukhors.
L’avocat souligne que malgré le traumatisme subi, Amir Boukhors est déterminé à poursuivre ses activités d’influenceur et sa liberté d’expression. Son nom est également apparu dans une autre affaire judiciaire où un employé du ministère français de l’Économie est soupçonné d’avoir transmis des informations sur des opposants au régime algérien, dont Amir Boukhors.
L’Algérie a vivement protesté contre la détention d’un agent consulaire en France, qualifiant la situation d’inadmissible et menaçant de conséquences sur les relations bilatérales. La diplomatie algérienne a dénoncé l’arrestation de l’agent consulaire sans notification diplomatique et a critiqué l’argumentaire utilisé par le ministère de l’Intérieur français, dénonçant une cabale judiciaire.
Selon l’Algérie, ce tournant judiciaire est une tentative de torpiller le processus de relance des relations bilatérales convenu entre les chefs d’État français et algérien lors de leur récent entretien téléphonique. Il a demandé la libération immédiate de son agent consulaire. The influencer had been subject to two serious assaults, one in 2022 and another on the evening of April 29, 2024, as stated by Me Éric Plouvier to AFP. The investigation, initially opened by the Créteil prosecutor’s office, was taken over by the National Anti-Terrorism Prosecutor’s Office (PNAT) in February of this year. This change in jurisdiction and the subsequent opening of a judicial inquiry «demonstrate that a foreign power, Algeria, did not hesitate to carry out a violent action on French soil through intimidation and terror intended to jeopardize lives,» the lawyer believes.
«It’s the intervention of one state on the territory of another state, in violation of all international conventions, and in violation of France’s sovereignty,» said Me Éric Plouvier, lawyer for Amir Boukhors, on franceinfo.
«This judicial turning point in the investigation with the arrest of agents linked to the Algerian regime and their presentation to a judge also reveals that the events of April 29, 2024, are a state matter,» the lawyer asserted. «Such violent actions not only undermine France’s sovereignty but also the security of political refugees, including that of Amir Boukhors, which France has an obligation to ensure.»
Amir Boukhors’ lawyer assures that his client is «in a state of mind to continue his activities as an influencer, his freedom of speech, freedom of expression regarding what he considers to be negative aspects of democratic practice in Algeria.» «These events have traumatized him, but he continues on his path,» he added.
The name of Amir Boukhors recently surfaced in another judicial inquiry opened by the Paris prosecutor’s office. In this case, an employee of the French Ministry of Economy was indicted in December, suspected of divulging information about opponents to the Algerian regime, including Amir Boukhors. The information was requested and transmitted to «an Algerian national working at the Algerian consulate in Créteil,» according to the Paris prosecutor’s office.
The Algerian influencer has been in France since 2016. He was granted political asylum in 2023, and his home country is demanding his return for trial. Algeria has issued nine international arrest warrants against him, accusing him of fraud and terrorist offenses. In 2022, the French justice system refused his extradition.
Algeria «strongly protested» on Saturday night against the detention of this consular agent in France. This was deemed «unacceptable» by Algeria at a time when dialogue with Paris has just resumed. The Algerian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ahmed Attaf, denounced «this new unacceptable and unqualifiable development (which) will cause great harm to Algerian-French relations.» He pledged not to «let this situation go without consequences.»
The Algerian diplomacy specified that it received the French Ambassador Stéphane Romatet to «express its strong protest.» Algeria protested both «the form» and «the substance» of the case. It pointed out that «the consular agent was arrested in public and then placed in custody without notification through diplomatic channels» and criticized the «stale and absurd argumentation» of the French Ministry of the Interior, denouncing an «unacceptable judicial witch-hunt» based «solely on the fact that the mobile phone of the charged consular agent was located near the home address of the individual» Amir Boukhors.
For Algerian diplomacy, «this unprecedented judicial turn in the history of Algerian-French relations is not by chance.» It occurs «for the purpose of sabotaging the process of reinvigorating bilateral relations agreed upon by the two heads of state (French and Algerian, editor’s note) during their recent telephone conversation,» lamented the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. It demanded the «immediate» release of its consular agent.
In conclusion, the diplomatic standoff between Algeria and France surrounding the case of Amir Boukhors continues to escalate, threatening to strain relations between the two countries. The legal proceedings and political ramifications of this case are likely to have lasting implications on the diplomatic landscape of the region.
Trois hommes ont été mis en examen, vendredi 11 avril, soupçonnés d’être impliqués dans l’enlèvement, le 29 avril 2024, de l’influenceur algérien et opposant au régime Amir Boukhors, dit «Amir DZ», a appris franceinfo vendredi de source proche du dossier. Ces trois hommes ont été incarcérés provisoirement, indique le parquet national antiterroriste (Pnat).
Ils sont poursuivis pour arrestation, enlèvement, séquestration ou détention arbitraire suivie de libération le septième jour en relation avec une entreprise terroriste, ainsi que pour participation à une association de malfaiteurs terroriste en vue de la préparation d’un crime, précise le Pnat.
L’avocat de l’influenceur, Me Eric Plouvier, confirme par ailleurs sur franceinfo que l’un des suspects est «titulaire d’un passeport de service d’une représentation consulaire algérienne», même s’il assure qu’il est «difficile de savoir à ce stade précisément ses fonctions».
L’Algérie «est passée à une action violente sur le territoire français», destinée à «neutraliser» l’opposant au régime Amir Boukhors assure sur franceinfo son avocat. L’influenceur avait fait «l’objet de deux agressions graves, une en 2022 et une autre dans la soirée du 29 avril 2024», a également indiqué Me Éric Plouvier à l’AFP. L’enquête, d’abord ouverte au parquet de Créteil, a été reprise par le Pnat en février dernier.
L’avocat estime que ce changement de juridiction et l’ouverture d’une information judiciaire démontrent qu’une puissance étrangère, l’Algérie, a mené une action violente sur le sol français, portant atteinte à la vie et à la souveraineté de la France.
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