BRUSSELS — Police searched the places of work and residence of an worker of the European Parliament on Wednesday as a part of an investigation into whether or not EU lawmakers have been bribed to advertise Russian propaganda to undermine help for Ukraine, prosecutors stated.
Simply days earlier than European elections, the Belgian federal prosecutor’s workplace stated searches happened on the worker’s condo in Brussels. His parliamentary places of work within the EU capital metropolis and in Strasbourg, the place the EU Parliament’s headquarters are positioned in France, have been additionally checked.
Belgian and French authorities, in partnership with the EU’s judicial cooperation company Eurojust, carried out the operation.
Europe-wide elections to decide on a brand new EU parliament are set for June 6-9.
An investigation was introduced final month by Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo, who stated his nation’s intelligence service has confirmed the existence of a community attempting to undermine help for Ukraine.
“The searches are a part of a case of interference, passive corruption and membership of a prison group and pertains to indications of Russian interference, whereby Members of the European Parliament have been approached and paid to advertise Russian propaganda by way of the Voice of Europe information web site,” prosecutors stated.
Prosecutors stated they imagine the worker performed “a big function on this.”
A number of information shops recognized the suspect as Guillaume Pradoura, a staffer for EU lawmaker Marcel de Graaff of the far-right Dutch social gathering Discussion board for Democracy. An individual with information of the investigation confirmed that the stories have been correct. The official was not allowed to talk publicly as a result of the probe is ongoing.
De Graaff stated on the social media platform X that he and Pradoura weren’t contacted by authorities.
“For me, all this comes as an entire shock,” he stated. “By the best way, I’ve no involvement in any so-called Russian disinformation operation in any respect. I’ve my very own political views and I proclaim them. That’s my job as an MEP.”
Pradoura beforehand labored for Maximilian Krah, the highest candidate of Germany’s far-right Different for Germany in subsequent month’s European election, who was not too long ago banned from campaigning by his social gathering.
Krah had already been beneath scrutiny after authorities in Brussels searched his places of work on the European Parliament in reference to one among his assistants who was arrested final month on suspicion of spying for China.
Krah stated in a message posted on X that none of his places of work had been searched on Wednesday.
“The ex-employee in query has lengthy been working for one more MP,” he stated.
The EU this month banned Voice of Europe and three different Russian media from broadcasting within the 27-nation bloc. The EU stated they have been all beneath management of the Kremlin and have been concentrating on “European political events, particularly throughout election durations.” For the reason that warfare began in February 2022, the EU had already suspended Russia At present and Sputnik, amongst a number of different shops.
De Croo stated final month that the probe confirmed that members of the European Parliament have been approached and supplied cash to advertise Russian propaganda.
“Based on our intelligence service, the goals of Moscow are very clear. The target is to assist elect extra pro-Russian candidates to the European Parliament and to strengthen a sure pro-Russian narrative in that establishment,” he stated.
“The aim may be very clear: A weakened European help for Ukraine serves Russia on the battlefield and that’s the actual goal of what has been uncovered within the final weeks,” he added.
EU nations have poured billions of euros into Ukraine, together with vital quantities of weaponry and ammunition. They’ve additionally slapped sanctions on prime Russian officers, together with President Vladimir Putin, banks, firms and the power sector since Moscow’s full-scale invasion in February 2022.
