A Belgian prosecutor has revealed that an employee at the European Parliament played a significant role in a suspected Russian propaganda operation that infiltrated EU institutions. The prosecutor ordered simultaneous raids at the European Parliament offices in Brussels and Strasbourg, as well as at the home of a parliamentary staffer in Schaerbeek, Belgium. The staffer in question, Guillaume Pradoura, who was an assistant to Dutch EU lawmaker Marcel de Graaff, denied any involvement in the alleged Russian disinformation operation. De Graaff distanced himself from the accusations, emphasizing that he has his own political beliefs and job as an MEP.
De Graaff, a far-right politician who defected to join another party in 2022, faced expulsion from his European political family over pro-Russian statements related to the invasion of Ukraine. Pradoura, who previously worked for Marine Le Pen’s party and an embattled German MEP also linked to an espionage investigation, was expelled for posting an anti-Semitic picture in 2019. The prosecutor’s office confirmed that the raids are part of an investigation into a Russian influence operation that paid MEPs to spread pro-Kremlin propaganda. The European Parliament is currently cooperating with law enforcement in the ongoing investigation.
The investigation is linked to Voice of Europe, a Dutch-listed news company recently sanctioned by the EU for disseminating Kremlin propaganda. The news company claimed to offer unbiased news from Europe and worldwide, organizing interviews with MEPs at the European Parliament. Czech authorities uncovered a Russian influence operation conducted through Voice of Europe, alleging financial transactions with elected officials in the European Parliament and national parliaments of several countries. Despite interviews with the news company, MEPs like Anders Vistisen and Maximilian Krah denied receiving payment for their appearances.
Pradoura’s former boss, Maximilian Krah, has also come under scrutiny for his connections to Voice of Europe. Krah, a member of Alternative for Germany expelled for making Nazi comments, denied receiving payment for interviews with the news company. Krah’s assistant has since been arrested on suspicion of spying for China, adding to the complexities of the ongoing investigation. The timing of the raids, just before the EU elections, is raising concerns about potential Russian interference in the democratic process. European politicians like Terry Reintke are calling for clarity and transparency to ensure that voters are not swayed by propaganda tactics.
The prosecutor’s office in Belgium confirmed that the raids at the European Parliament and the home of a parliamentary staffer are connected to a case involving interference, passive corruption, and membership in a criminal organization. The investigation is part of a broader probe into Russian influence operations targeting EU institutions and paid propaganda spreading by MEPs. The European Greens’ lead candidate, Terry Reintke, warned against right-wing forces playing Russian roulette with European democracy, emphasizing the need to protect the integrity of the upcoming EU elections. As the investigation unfolds, more details are expected to emerge about the extent of Russian propaganda infiltration in EU institutions and its impact on the democratic process.
