EU lawmakers have been paid to disseminate Russian propaganda, according to Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo.
De Croo said Thursday there “has been a close collaboration” this week between Belgian and Czech intelligence services toward smashing a Russian propaganda network.
“It came for example to light that Russia has approached MEPs, but also paid [them], to promote Russian propaganda here,” De Croo said, during a debate in the Belgian national parliament about foreign interference, without naming the lawmakers.
De Croo’s spokesperson told POLITICO the prime minister was referring in his remarks to the Czech government’s decision to sanction the news site Voice of Europe, which Prague said was part of a pro-Russian influence operation.
The Czech foreign ministry announced Wednesday it had sanctioned Ukrainian oligarch Viktor Medvedchuk, an ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin. The press release said Medvedchuk ran a “Russian influence operation” from Russia on Czech territory using Voice of Europe.
Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala said Wednesday authorities had “hit a pro-Russian network” that attempted to set up an influence operation with security consequences for the Czech Republic and the EU.
“This decision is in the security interest of the Czech Republic, as well as contributing to the protection of the democratic nature of the forthcoming elections to the European Parliament,” the Czech foreign ministry added.
Voice of Europe’s site is currently unavailable and its account on X (formerly Twitter) hasn’t posted since Wednesday.
European Parliament deputy spokesperson Delphine Colard said the Parliament is currently “looking into the findings” of the Czech authorities about Voice of Europe.
