European Parliament investigation: Police search targets suspected of Russian interference operations ahead of elections – JURIST

Belgian police carried out searches on Wednesday as part of an investigation into allegations of Russian interference in the European Parliament, focusing particularly on accusations that members of the European Parliament (MEPs) were paid to promote propaganda Russian via the Voice of Europe website.

The searches, which took place at a private residence in Brussels and European Parliament offices in Strasbourg and Brussels, were part of an effort to uncover individuals suspected of being involved in the alleged scheme. Belgian law enforcement has highlighted the potential importance of a parliamentary aide with links to the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) and currently employed by far-right Dutch MEP Marcel de Graaff. However, de Graaff quickly distanced himself from these accusations, maintaining his innocence and reaffirming his adherence to his personal political beliefs.

The raids represent a crucial aspect of a broader investigation into an alleged Russian influence operation that paid sitting MEPs to spread pro-Kremlin propaganda.

Furthermore, the investigation's focus on the Voice of Europe website, recently sanctioned by the European Union for disseminating Kremlin propaganda, further adds to the complexity of the case. Czech authorities had previously announced the dismantling of a Russian influence operation carried out through Voice of Europe, involving financial transactions with elected representatives of the European Parliament and national parliaments of several European countries.

Among the individuals scrutinized in this investigation is MEP Maximilian Krah, whose association with the far-right AfD party, recently excluded from its European political family due to controversial remarks about the Nazis, has been scrutinized. Krah, however, refuted allegations of financial benefits from his interviews with Voice of Europe, maintaining his innocence despite the subsequent arrest of his aide on suspicion of spying for China.

As the European elections approach, the integrity of electoral processes and the potential need to combat foreign influence, particularly at a time when digital platforms constitute powerful tools of dissemination and manipulation, serve as underlying justifications. underlying such investigations. said Terry Reintke, leader of the European Greens party.