Czech secret service: Russia paid cash to friendly Dutch and European politicians

The case revolves around Voice of Europe, a Prague-based news site that distributes pro-Russian news in various languages, including Dutch. This often includes right-wing, Eurosceptic politicians who advocate a good relationship with Russia. From the Netherlands, FvD party leader Thierry Baudet was interviewed by Voice of Europe, and from Belgium Filip Dewinter of Vlaams Belang.

BIS, the Czech secret service, now claims that Voice of Europe is funded by Moscow. A large number of European politicians also received large sums of cash in exchange for Russia-friendly positions, including stopping arms deliveries to Ukraine.

It remains unclear for the time being which Dutch politicians are involved. The Czech secret service, which held a press conference about the affair on Wednesday afternoon, did not mention any names. Only that it concerns politicians from six EU countries: the Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, France, Hungary and Poland. There is therefore no concrete indication that Baudet, for example, received money. Baudet himself has always categorically denied such donations – he did so on Tuesday during a parliamentary debate on an exit from the EU.

On the sanctions list

Large sums were allegedly paid, according to the Czech newspaper Denik N it concerns hundreds of thousands of euros. “The main purpose of Voice of Europe was to spread the frame that peace is only possible if Ukraine gives up the right to defend its sovereignty and integrity,” quotes Denik N a high-ranking Czech official.

According to BIS, Voice of Europe was run by Viktor Medvedchuk, a former Ukrainian oligarch who has been close friends with Russian President Putin for many years. He was immediately placed on the sanctions list by the Czech Republic, as was his close associate Artem Marchevsky.

Voice of Europe has also been put on the sanctions list, meaning all financial assets have been frozen. The news site can continue to operate, but money can no longer be transferred to people affiliated with it.

Strikingly right in tone

BIS became aware of the matter when Voice of Europe started its news activities from Prague last year, with the war in Ukraine as the main topic. It quickly became apparent that the approach of the articles was right up Russia’s alley.

A first look at Voice of Europe does not ring many alarm bells. The appearance resembles a normal news site, the logo contains the EU color blue and the yellow European stars. The reporting is noticeably right-wing in tone.

For example, on Wednesday there were reports about Ukraine, which would increasingly suffer from ammunition shortages and the Russian offensive. Another news report states that foreigners are responsible for more than half of all serious crimes in Frankfurt, Germany. Voice of Europe also pays attention to President Macron’s campaign for the upcoming European elections. It is stated that his constant harping on the Russian danger is not appealing to French voters, according to recent polls.

Kremlin-run

According to the Czech secret service BIS, all this is no coincidence, because Voice of Europe is funded and run by the Kremlin. Earlier this month the French newspaper published Le Monde all the story that the French secret service DGSI was investigating a pro-Russian campaign towards the European elections next June. The information also came from the Czech Republic, writes Denik N. The French targeted, among others, Guillaume Pradoura, a former member of Rassemblement National, Marine Le Pen’s former National Front.

Pradoura was previously the personal assistant of Maximilian Krah, a German MEP of the right-wing migration and EU-skeptical AfD, and currently works for Marcel de Graaff, the Dutch MEP of Forum for Democracy.

The involvement of the Ukrainian oligarch Viktor Medvedchuk is also spicy. He has been a confidant of Russian President Vladimir Putin for two decades and was long regarded as Putin’s man in Ukraine. Medvedchuk visited Putin’s villa in Crimea and also spent a holiday with him in Sochi. Putin is also the godfather of Medvedchuk’s daughter Darya. After the Maidan Revolution of 2014, he fled his country, just like pro-Russian President Yanukovych. After the annexation of Crimea by Russia, Medvedchuk was placed on the sanctions list by the US. He later returned to Ukraine, where he started his own political party.