Russian interference in European politics
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 the European elections and other 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 agree in opposition against 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 2024 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 (in Dutch). 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.
- v
- t
- e
- Topical
- before July 2016
- July 2016 – election day
- Transition
- Jan–Jun 2017
- Jul–Dec 2017
- Jan–Jun 2018
- Jul–Dec 2018
- Jan–Jun 2019
- Jul–Dec 2019
- 2020–2022
- Timelines related to Donald Trump and Russian interference in United States elections
events
- Steele dossier
- Assessing Russian Activities and Intentions in Recent US Elections
- Dismissal of James Comey
- Crossfire Hurricane
- Russia investigation origins counter-narrative
- Durham special counsel investigation
- Mueller special counsel investigation
- Countering America's Adversaries Through Sanctions Act
- Nunes memo
- Facebook–Cambridge Analytica data scandal
- DNC lawsuit
- 2018 interference
- Senate Intelligence Committee report
- 2020 interference
- Vulkan files leak
- Kremlin papers
- Active measures
- Cyberwarfare by Russia
- Propaganda in Russia
- Russian espionage in the United States
- The Plot to Hack America (2016)
- Trump: The Kremlin Candidate? (2017)
- Cyberwar: How Russian Hackers and Trolls Helped Elect a President (2018)
- Russian Roulette (2018)
- Intelligence and Security Committee report
- Russian interference in British politics
- 2016 Brexit referendum
- 2017 Macron e-mail leaks
- Russian interference in European politics
 | This article about politics in the Czech Republic is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. |
- v
- t
- e
 | This espionage-related article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. |
- v
- t
- e
