Several members of the European Parliament (EP) were paid to spread Moscow’s messages, Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo stated.
According to him, Belgian and Czech intelligence services „closely collaborated” this week to dismantle a Russian propaganda network, as reported by Politico.
The head of the Belgian government, whose country currently holds the rotating presidency of the European Union Council, confirms some information revealed on Wednesday by the authorities in Prague.
"For example, it was discovered that Russia approached members of the European Parliament, but also paid them to promote Russian propaganda here," De Croo said, during a debate in the Belgian federal parliament on foreign interference. He did not disclose the names of the respective MEPs.
Investigation Requested at the European Parliament
Leaders of two important groups in the European Parliament called for an internal investigation on Friday after the intelligence services identified this Moscow-funded influence network, AFP reports.
French MEP Valerie Hayer, the president of Renew Europe (centrists and liberals), wrote to the President of the European Parliament, Roberta Metsola, requesting an "immediate and transparent" internal investigation in cooperation with national authorities.
With ten weeks to go before the European elections, "voters need to know whether MEPs or candidates are working with Russia's support or its representatives. Democracy in Europe must be defended at all costs against these threats," emphasized Hayer.
The Greens also calls for "a swift and thorough investigation at the European level."
"Putin is trying to get away with his war in Ukraine (...) It's a direct attack on the structure of our democracy. Politicians who received money must be severely punished, both politically and legally," insisted German MEP Terry Reintke.
"The Parliament is currently examining, in coordination with its institutional partners, the conclusions of the Czech authorities, especially regarding the media outlet 'Voice of Europe'," a spokesperson for the institution told AFP.
Investigation Initiated in Czechia
A spokesperson for the Belgian government told Politico that Prime Minister Alexander De Croo referred to the Czech government's decision to sanction the news website Voice of Europe, which Prague claims is part of the pro-Russian propaganda operation.
The Czech Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced on Wednesday that it had sanctioned Ukrainian oligarch Viktor Medvedchuk, an ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin. A statement from the Czech diplomacy mentioned that Medvedchuk was conducting an "influence operation" from Russia on Czech territory through Voice of Europe.
According to the publication Denik N, citing a Czech diplomatic source, payments reached politicians in Belgium, France, Germany, Hungary, the Netherlands, and Poland.
The news website Voice of Europe is currently unavailable, and its most recent post on its X account (formerly Twitter) was made on Wednesday.