Czech intelligence services have unmasked a network financed by Moscow which spread pro-Russian propaganda on Ukraine and extended its influence to the European Parliament, Prime Minister Petr Fiala announced on Wednesday.
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The Voice of Europe news site, based in Prague, was used to spread information aimed at dissuading the EU from helping Ukraine in its fight against the Russian invasion launched in February 2022.
According to Mr Fiala, the pro-Russian network unmasked by the Czech intelligence service (BIS) had activities which “could have a significant effect on the security of the Czech Republic and the EU”.
“This group was engaged in carrying out operations and activities on the territory of the EU aimed at harming the territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence of Ukraine,” the Prime Minister added to the journalists.
“The group's activity (…) also extends to the European Parliament,” he said, without revealing details.
BIS said the network was financed from Russia.
“The BIS operation revealed how Russia is expanding its influence on the territories of EU member countries, and how it is working to influence political processes in our countries,” the Czech intelligence service said on x.
The Czech government has placed Voice of Europe, former Ukrainian MP and businessman close to the Kremlin Viktor Medvedchuk, as well as media man Artem Martchevsky, on its sanctions list, in connection with the network's activities.
According to the Denik N newspaper, European politicians cooperating with the Voice of Europe website, which published calls from some of them to stop aiding Ukraine, were paid by Russian funds which also financed campaigns for the next European elections.
The payments concern political leaders from Belgium, France, Germany, Hungary, the Netherlands and Poland, according to the newspaper, which cites a Czech diplomatic source. This highlighted the involvement of the German far-right party Alternative for Germany (AfD).
Artem Martchevsky was in charge of content at Voice of Europe, as well as relations with European political leaders, according to the same source.