Belgian authorities probe MEPs' ties to Russian propaganda network
29 May 2024 08:11
Severe collaboration suspicions with Russia have fallen on several Members of the European Parliament. Belgian services searched the office and home of one of the deputies' assistants early Wednesday morning. This move by investigators is related to the likelihood of MEPs being involved in a conspiracy linked to spreading Russian propaganda.
Belgian media reported on this search in the assistant's office and home in the Brussels district of Schaerbeek and the ongoing investigation, which aims to verify suspicions of Russian interference in the European Parliament. MEPs may have allowed themselves to be corrupted for money and to propagate content indicated by Russian agents.
The investigation under which Wednesday's searches were conducted concerns the news portal Voice of Europe. Belgian services scrutinized the site after Czech intelligence revealed its connection to a Moscow-funded network spreading pro-Russian propaganda in March.
Several European politicians were allegedly cooperating with Voice of Europe. The money they received from Russia was used to finance their campaigns before the upcoming European elections.
According to PAP, the Belgian media reported that Russia was trying to influence the European elections in June. Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo announced that the federal prosecutor had initiated an investigation.
Russian "mole" in the European Parliament? Belgian prosecution investigates
The media did not release the name of the assistant or the MEP for whom he works. The EP press service said it could not comment on an ongoing investigation and that the European Parliament was fully cooperating with law enforcement and judicial authorities to support the administration of justice.
On Monday, European Union member states approved sanctions against the Russian propaganda center Voice of Europe. The sanctions affected two individuals associated with the portal: Artem Marczewski and Viktor Medvedchuk.
Investigators are investigating suspicions of paid corruption and spreading pro-Russian propaganda. In addition to searching the assistant’s office, the investigating judge also ordered a search of the assistant’s home.
