BRUSSELS, BELGIUM – Police executed searches at the residence and office of a European Parliament employee in Brussels, suspecting Russian interference just days before critical EU elections. This operation extended to the employee’s office in Strasbourg, France, in coordination with Eurojust and French judicial authorities.
Belgium’s federal prosecutor’s office confirmed the raids on Wednesday, highlighting the urgency as Europe prepares for polls to elect a new EU Parliament from June 6-9. The investigation, initiated by Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo, aims to uncover a network allegedly working to undermine support for Ukraine.
The prosecutor’s statement revealed that the searches are part of a broader case involving interference, passive corruption, and criminal organization membership. It is suspected that Members of the European Parliament were approached and compensated to disseminate Russian propaganda through the Voice of Europe news website.
The EU has already banned Voice of Europe and three other Russian media outlets from broadcasting within its 27-nation bloc, citing their Kremlin control and targeted influence on European political parties, especially during election periods. This follows previous suspensions of Russia Today and Sputnik since the onset of the war in February 2022.
Prime Minister De Croo emphasized the gravity of the situation, noting that Moscow’s objectives are clear: to elect more pro-Russian candidates to the European Parliament and bolster a pro-Russian narrative within the institution. He underscored the intelligence service’s findings, which corroborate these claims.
EU nations have collectively invested billions of euros into Ukraine, supplying substantial weaponry and imposing sanctions on top Russian officials, including President Vladimir Putin. These measures reflect the EU’s commitment to countering Russian aggression since the full-scale invasion began.