After “Qatargate”, are we heading towards a “Russiagate” in the European Parliament?
According to an investigation initially carried out by the Czech intelligence services, Moscow attempted to weave a network of influence even within the institution of the European Parliament.
The European Parliament during a session in Strasbourg, March 13, 2024. © Frederick Florin / AFP
By: RFI Follow
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With our correspondent in Brussels,
Jean-Jacques Héry
It all starts with a “Voice of Europe” website (“the Voice of Europe”, in French). This site, based in the Czech Republic, recently attracted the attention of intelligence services. After investigation, it turned out that it was financed by someone close to Vladimir Putin with the mission of spreading Russian propaganda on Ukraine.
Prague closed the site
and claims that it constituted the cornerstone of a pro-Moscow chain of influence which would extend to the very heart of the European Parliament. The information was confirmed this week by Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo before the Belgian House of Representatives. “
Russia paid to promote its propaganda, it is about parliamentarians receiving money
,” the head of government even clarified.
“
Russia is trying everything to try to divide us
”
No names have been filtered yet. But for Nathalie Loiseau, Renaissance MEP, the corruption of MEPs would not be surprising: “
I am both shocked and not surprised because we know that Russia is trying everything to try to divide us and to try to weaken democracies. In the European far-right parties, we see a lot of complacency and ambiguity with Russia that the Russian war of aggression in Ukraine has not really changed if we look at the votes of each party.
»
In addition to the judicial investigation, the Renaissance group in Parliament requested an internal investigation into this network of influence. This is also the case for the Greens group. Everyone sees it as a question of credibility and an information issue for voters a few weeks before the European election.
“Putin is trying to get away with his war in Ukraine (...) it is a direct attack on the very fabric of our democracy, the politicians who received money must be severely punished, both politically and in justice
,” insisted German MP Terry Reintke, one of the two heads of the Green lists for the election. For its part, “
the Parliament is currently examining, in coordination with its institutional partners, the conclusions of the Czech authorities, in particular concerning the Voice of Europe media
,” a spokesperson for the institution told AFP.
Also listen to Here Europe - Charles Michel: “The Kremlin accuses Ukraine in a preposterous way”
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