Members of the European Parliament (EP) warn that politicians and parties elected in Europe are deliberately serving the interests of Moscow, trying to divide the unity of the European Union (EU) and undermine democracy, Jānis Krastiņš, press secretary of the EP in Latvia, informed LETA agency.
In a resolution adopted on Thursday by 433 votes to 56 with 18 abstentions, the EP expresses “great indignation and serious concern” over Russia’s continued efforts to undermine European democracy through various forms of interference and disinformation.
The resolution states that the Kremlin seeks to promote division among European citizens by recruiting MEPs as “agents of influence” and by creating systems of dependency, including financial, with European political parties, which then act as amplifiers of Kremlin propaganda and serve its interests.
Expressing deep concern about the reports that MEP Tatjana Ždanoka (LKS) may have acted as an informant of the Fifth Department of the Russian Federal Security Service, the members emphasize that the EP and Latvian authorities must thoroughly investigate this issue in order to immediately determine appropriate sanctions and criminal proceedings actions.
They also point to other cases where MEPs deliberately served Russia’s interests, including participating in fake election observation missions in Russian-occupied territories.
MEPs point out that in European member states, it is regularly established that Russia has provided large amounts of funding to political parties, politicians, officials and movements, thus trying to interfere in the internal processes of democratic countries and influence them. Russian techniques include the use of foreign bank loans, purchase agreements and commercial contracts, and the promotion of financial activities.
The resolution expresses particular concern about recent reports that Russian authorities are preparing messages for far-right political parties and actors in Germany, France and Slovakia with the aim of undermining public support for Ukraine. MEPs are also concerned about disinformation campaigns possibly organized by Russia and illegal content that is widely distributed on Twitter.
Observing Moscow’s support for separatist movements in Europe, MEPs express extremely serious concerns about possible relations between Catalan separatists and the Russian administration, including the government of the autonomous region of Catalonia and the former head of the autonomous region’s government and current MEP Carles Puigdemont. The MEPs want the cases related to the contacts of the Catalan MEPs with representatives of Russia to be referred to the EP Advisory Committee on MEPs’ Conduct.
The resolution states that Russia’s intervention in Catalonia could be part of a broader Russian strategy to promote internal destabilization and division in the EU. The EP calls on the competent judicial authorities to effectively investigate the possible connection of MEPs with the Kremlin.
2024-02-08 14:38:24
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