Police Search Home, Office of European Parliament Employee Over Alleged Russian Interference

Brussels:  Belgium’s federal prosecutor’s office said on Wednesday that police carried out searches at residence of an employee of European Parliament and at his office in Parliament’s building in Brussels over suspected Russian interference.

Prosecutors said in statement that suspect’s office in Strasbourg, where EU Parliament’s hequarters are located in France, was also searched in partnership with EU’s judicial cooperation agency, Eurojust, and French judicial authorities.

raids took place less than two weeks before Europe-wide polls on June 6-9 to elect a new EU parliament.

An investigation was announced last month by Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo, who said his country’s intelligence service has confirmed existence of a network trying to undermine support for Ukraine.

“ searches are part of a case of interference, passive corruption and membership of a criminal organisation and relates to indications of Russian interference, whereby Members of European Parliament were approached and paid to promote Russian propaganda via Voice of Europe news website,” prosecutors said.

Prosecutors said y believe employee played “a significant role in this.”

Several Dutch news outlets identified suspect as a staffer for EU lawmaker Marcel de Graaff of far-right Dutch party Forum for Democracy. A person with knowledge of investigation confirmed that reports were accurate. official was not allowed to speak publicly because probe is ongoing.

Calls to de Graaff’s office at European Parliament were not immediately answered.

EU this month banned Voice of Europe and three or Russian media from brocasting in 27-nation bloc. EU said y were all under control of Kremlin and were targeting “European political parties, especially during election periods.” Since war started in February 2022, EU h alrey suspended Russia Today and Sputnik, among several or outlets.

De Croo said last month that probe showed that members of European Parliament were approached and offered money to promote Russian propaganda.

“According to our intelligence service, objectives of Moscow are very clear. objective is to help elect more pro-Russian candidates to European Parliament and to reinforce a certain pro-Russian narrative in that institution,” he said.

EU nations have poured billions of euros into Ukraine, along with significant amounts of weaponry and ammunition. y’ve also slapped sanctions on top Russian officials, including President Vlimir Putin, banks, companies and energy sector since Moscow's full-scale invasion in February 2022.