Belgium confirms existence of Russian network in several European countries and launches investigation into EU election meddling

Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo on Friday published an investigation into Russia’s alleged interference in June’s global election, saying his country’s intelligence service had confirmed the existence of a network trying to undermine support for Ukraine.

“Belgian intelligence services have confirmed the existence of pro-Russian interference networks with activities in several European countries and also here in Belgium,” said De Croo, whose country currently holds the next presidency of the European Union.

De Croo said Belgian authorities were working closely with Czech authorities after a pro-Russian influence operation was uncovered there. He said the investigation showed that members of the European Parliament had been approached and offered money to promote Russian propaganda, AP reports.

“According to our intelligence service, Moscow’s objectives are very clear,” he said. “The goal is to help elect more pro-Russian candidates to the European Parliament and to strengthen a certain pro-Russian narrative in this institution,” he told reporters.

From June 6 to 9, elections will be held across Europe to elect a new EU Parliament.

De Croo said: “The goal is very clear: weakened European support for Ukraine serves Russia on the battlefield, and that is the real goal of what has been revealed in recent weeks.”

Last month, the Latvian State Security Service initiated criminal proceedings against 73-year-old Latvian MEP Tatyana Ždanoka for alleged links to Russia. According to reports on Russian, Nordic and Baltic news sites in January, she had been an agent of the Russian Federal Security Service since at least 2004.

EU countries have pumped billions of euros and significant amounts of weapons and ammunition into Ukraine. Since the full-scale invasion in February 2022, they have also imposed sanctions on high-ranking Russian officials, including President Vladimir Putin, banks, companies and the energy sector.

However, as the war dragged on and the Russian troops appeared to have a slight advantage, it became increasingly difficult to maintain this support. Hungary, Putin’s closest European supporter, has delayed the transfer of funds to Ukraine and is pushing for peace talks.

Referring to the Belgian prosecutor’s investigation, De Croo noted that “the cash payments were not made in Belgium, but the intervention took place”.

“These are serious concerns and that is why I have taken action,” he said. “We cannot allow such a Russian threat in our midst. We must act, both at national and EU level.”