The Voice of Europe case was one of a number of uncovered influence operations on European politics. In 2024 the Czech secret intelligence service (BIS) uncovered a Russian state financed pro-russian influence network with the public outlet Voice of Europe, using right-wing and Eurosceptic politicians to influence e.g. the European elections. The network is suspected to have bribed several European politicians from different countries.
History
According to a report released on March 28, 2024, by the BIS, published by Czech newspaper Denník N, Russia paid hundreds of thousands of Euros through its Prague-based right-wing rhetoric "Voice of Europe" website to European politicians (mainly from The Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, France, Hungary and Poland) in order to influence influence European elections in favour of positions against Ukraine and the EU, by means of right-wing, Eurosceptic politicians.
Examples of politicians allegedly implicated in the campaign include Dutch FvD party leader Thierry Baudet, who was interviewed by the "Voice of Europe", and Belgian Filip Dewinter of Vlaams Belang party. Baudet himself systematically denied receiving such donations, notably during a parliamentary debate on an exit from the EU.
According to a quote of a senior Czech official published by Denník N, “The main purpose of Voice of Europe was to spread the frame that peace is only possible if Ukraine gives up the right to defend its sovereignty and integrity”. According to BIS, the "Voice of Europe" was run by Viktor Medvedchuk, a former Ukrainian oligarch who has been close friends with Russian President Putin for many years. Medvedchuk was immediately placed on the sanctions list by the Czech Republic, as was his close associate Artem Marchevsky.
Voice of Europe has also been put on the sanctions list, meaning all financial assets have been frozen. The news site can continue to operate, but money can no longer be transferred to people affiliated with it.
"Voice of Europe" news reports have stated that foreigners are responsible for more than half of all serious crimes in Frankfurt, Germany, and that French President Macron's campaign on the Russian danger is not appealing to French voters, according to recent polls. Le Monde has reported that the DGSI was investigating a pro-Russian campaign towards the European elections next June.[1]
Website
The website has its roots in the Netherlands. An entrepreneur linked to the site at the time “worked with” far-right leader Thierry Baudet in 2016 “to bring about the Ukraine referendum,” a Dutch newspaper wrote, referring to a nonbinding vote in which Dutch voters opposed a political association agreement between Ukraine and the EU.[2]
In 2023, Voice of Europe was relaunched and from then on had an address near Wenceslas Square in Prague. In March 2024, a Polish businessman, Jacek Jakubczyk, took over all shares in the company in the legal form of a s.r.o.
Involved politicans
Voice of Europe’s YouTube page throws up a parade of EU lawmakers, many of them belonging to far-right Euroskeptic parties. They agreed in opposedagainst the Green Deal, predict the Union’s imminent collapse or attack Ukraine.[2]
- Thierry Baudet, Dutch FvD. Baudet was interviewed by the "Voice of Europe" and systematically denied receiving donations, notably during a parliamentary debate on an exit from the EU.
- Filip Brusselmans,[3] Belgian politician and political activist.
- Petr Bystron, German AfD, candidate for European Elections 2024. In April 2024 the Munich Public Prosecutor's Office initiated preliminary investigations because of possible bribery of elected officials. According to Die Zeit, Public Prosecuter Office suspected that 20,000 euros were handed over at a meeting between Bystron and employees of Russian propaganda in Prague.[4]
- Filip Dewinter, Vlaams Belang party
- Matteo Gazzini, Italian Forza Italia, former Lega Nord. He gave Voice of Europe an interview and participated in a panel debate alongside other MEPs. He denied being offered or taking any money.[2]
- Maximilan Krah, German AfD, top-candicate for European Elections 20244 and already MEP.
Investigations and governmental reactions
The Czech foreign ministry sanctioned oligarch Viktor Medvedchuk as well as Voice of Europe itself and a person called Artem Pavlovich Marchevskyi presumed to be involved in the operation.[2]
Polish security services declared, they had carried out searches as part of the cross-border investigation in Warsaw and Tychy in western Poland. Local media cited the security services' statement saying authorities had seized €48,500 and $36,000.[2]
Political Reactions
"The Kremlin is using dodgy outlets pretending to be media [and] using money to buy covert influence,” said Czech European Commission Vice President Věra Jourová.[2]
See also
References
- ^ "Czech secret service: Russia paid cash to friendly Dutch and European politicians". Parool. Retrieved March 29, 2024.
- ^ a b c d e f "Russian influence scandal rocks EU". POLITICO. 2024-03-29. Retrieved 2024-04-09.
- ^ "Het federaal parket heeft een onderzoek geopend naar Russische inmenging in het Europees Parlement. Dat heeft premier Alexander De Croo vrijdag gezegd". De Tijd (in Dutch). April 12, 2024.
- ^ deutschlandfunk.de. "Affäre um prorussische Desinformation - Generalstaatsanwaltschaft München nimmt Vorermittlungen im Fall Bystron auf". Die Nachrichten (in German). Retrieved 2024-04-09.
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This page was last edited on 18 April 2024, at 07:54