Belgian police have swooped on the European Parliament today as part of an ongoing probe into an parliamentary employee who prosecutors say may have played a role in spreading Russian propaganda ahead of EU assembly elections.
Investigators searched the unnamed assistant’s home and office at the European Parliament – both in Brussels – according to federal prosecutors, while French authorities searched his office at the EU’s assembly building in Strasbourg.
Prosecutors said the searches were part of an investigation into possible Russian interference whereby members of the European Parliament were approached and paid to promote Russian propaganda via the “Voice of Europe” news website.
They added in a statement: “There are indications that the European Parliament employee concerned played a significant role in this.”
Prosecutors said the searches were part of an investigation into possible Russian interference in the European Parliament
Getty/European Parliament
The European Parliament has said it will not comment on the investigation, which remains ongoing.
But a parliamentary spokesperson said: “When and if requested to, the European Parliament fully cooperates with law enforcement and judicial authorities to assist the course of justice and will continue to do so. It is this context that access to an office was provided.”
Voice of Europe has said in an unsigned article on its website that it “categorically rejected” EU actions following the news that the bloc had imposed sanctions on the news site just two days ago.
The European Union had pushed the measures on Voice of Europe and two businessmen connected to it, officials said on Monday, extending existing penalties imposed by the Czech Republic – which says the outlet spreads Russian propaganda.
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The raids on the European Parliament buildings in Brussels (top inset) and Strasbourg (bottom inset) form part of a probe into Russian interference
Reuters/European Parliament
The EU-wide actions would hit the pair of businessmen – Viktor Medvedchuk and Artem Marchevskyi – and the Prague-based company that runs the website with asset freezes and travel bans, the Czech Foreign Ministry and the Council of the European Union said.
The Czech Republic said in March that the website was financed by Medvedchuk, a pro-Kremlin businessman and former Ukrainian lawmaker who was sent to exile in Russia in 2022 in exchange for Ukrainian prisoners of war. He was stripped of Ukrainian citizenship.
The Czech ministry has said Ukrainian and Israeli citizen Artem Marchevskyi led Voice of Europe under Medvedchuk’s instructions.
Voice of Europe – which says on its website it “covers news and politics from Europe and beyond” – dismissed the action and called it an EU attack on free speech.
The raids come just days before the European Parliament elections on June 6-9
Reuters
The Council of the EU said the Voice of Europe and its social media accounts actively spread disinformation on Ukraine and promoted “pro-Kremlin false narratives”
But, in response, the site said: “Voice of Europe is going to be blocked due to pressure from European authorities on freedom of speech and attempts to hide the truth about the real situation in Europe.”
The raids come just days before voters in the EU’s 27 member states head to the polls to elect 720 lawmakers to the European Parliament between June 6-9.
But mainstream groups have warned voters are likely to be bombarded with lies and disinformation.