Belgian Prime Minister confirms investigation into Russian influence network in the European Parliament

Belgian Prime Minister Alexander de Kroo has confirmed that law enforcement officials have launched an investigation into suspected corruption after the discovery of a Moscow-funded network of influence in the European Parliament. This was reported by UNN with reference to the Brussels Times.

"We cannot allow this threat to be present in our midst," de Kroo said. He described how Moscow approached several members of the European Parliament and paid them to promote the Russian agenda, just a few months before the national and European elections in June.

The prime minister confirmed that the Belgian authorities are currently looking into the case of Russian interference, which was uncovered this month as a result of a joint investigation by Czech and Polish intelligence.

However, Kroo said he could not provide any details on who and how many MEPs are under investigation, as this information is classified.

According to our intelligence services, Moscow's goals are clear. To help elect more pro-Russian candidates to the European Parliament and strengthen the pro-Russian mood in this institution

De Kroo also said that the cash payments were not made in Belgium, but that the interference did take place - and therefore it is subject to prosecution in Belgium. The federal prosecutor launched an investigation based on a declassified report by the Belgian intelligence services, which de Kroo had read.

"As Belgium is the seat of the EU institutions, we are obliged to ensure that every citizen has the right to vote freely and securely. But we must act at the EU level. We need more tools to fight Russian propaganda and disinformation," he said. 

Also, this topic will reportedly be discussed at the next European Council "in order to develop a common position". Speaking alongside him, Belgian Foreign Minister Hajia Lahbib also confirmed that Belgium has recently expelled a number of diplomats suspected of espionage, as well as diplomats accredited to the EU.

Recall 

On the eve of the June elections to the European Parliament, Czech counterintelligence exposed a pro-Russian network of influence on MEPs in Prague, backed by Putin's godfather Medvedchuk.  

According to sources of UNN, this network was exposed thanks to the assistance of the Security Service of Ukraine.

The network paid politicians money to praise Russia and Putin in the European media, and published anti-Ukrainian and anti-European materials on its own website, Voice of Europe. 

Medvedchuk launched the Voice of Europe website together with Artem Marchevsky, a former general producer of the 112 Ukraine TV channel.