Cabinet does not name names in Russian disinformation case

NOS News•today, 7:57 PM•Amended today, 8:41 PM

The government will not comment on names mentioned in the case of the Russian disinformation campaign that was exposed by the Czech Republic. Minister De Jonge of the Interior wrote this to the House of Representatives.

News site Voice of Europe played a key role in the disinformation campaign. According to the Czech Republic, with the help of pro-Russian politicians in a number of European countries, an attempt was made in the run-up to the European elections to question “the territorial integrity, sovereignty and freedom” of Ukraine.

The Czech newspaper Denik N wrote, based on conversations with intelligence sources, that politicians have also been paid. Contributions would be intended, among other things, for their campaigns. Politicians from Germany, France, Poland, Belgium, Hungary and the Netherlands, among others, are said to have been approached and some of them financed.

The authorities in the Czech Republic have not confirmed this or mentioned any names. “Discussing names circulating in reports in response to the Czech statement is contrary to the task assigned to the intelligence service by the legislature and does not serve national security,” De Jonge writes.

Last week, the House of Representatives had asked the cabinet for clarification through PVV leader Wilders. “If this is true, then I want to know: who are they? I want to hear the story. Which parties are involved?” he said when he requested a debate on the issue.

Wilders has sometimes spoken positively about the Voice of Europe website in the past. When asked about it, he now says he feels cheated. “Yes, I didn’t know of course. So yes, that can happen. But fortunately we have never received a cent from anyone, directly or indirectly, from that country.”

The Voice of Europe website regularly features politicians from Forum for Democracy, including party leader Baudet and MEP Marcel de Graaff. The party supports Russia in the conflict with Ukraine.

There is so far no evidence that Forum is influenced or paid by Moscow, but other parties in the Chamber point out that the accounting of Forum, and foundations linked to the party, is not very transparent.

Baudet tweeted today that it is nonsense that he or his party have been bribed. “Just out of interest: is there anyone here who actually believes that I – or FvD – have received bribes from Russia?”

De Jonge writes in his letter that the Czechs do not intend to make more details (such as names) public. However, the AIVD intelligence service does exchange information “in the form of questions and answers” with the Czech secret service “where necessary”.

“You can trust that the AIVD will act in accordance with its role and task if this is necessary,” the minister assures the House. He will debate tomorrow evening about Russian influence.