Last week, Czech counterintelligence uncovered a network in the European Union that paid local deputies to cover Russian propaganda. Viktor Medvedchuk, the ex-leader of the "Opposition Platform - For Life" party, banned in Ukraine, was behind this network. The message about this came from the interlocutor of LIGA.net in the law enforcement agencies, who noted that it was possible to expose the network thanks to the Security Service of Ukraine.
On March 28, Belgian Prime Minister Alexander de Croo said that Russia paid some members of the European Parliament to spread propaganda. He spoke about the "close" cooperation of the Belgian and Czech special services, which exposed the Russian propaganda network in the European Union.
The day before, the Czech counterintelligence (BIS) published a report on "two Ukrainian businessmen who had an influence on the information field in Ukraine and are closely connected with Russia." The pro-Russian network was headed by Medvedchuk, accused of treason, and Artem Marchevskyi, the former general producer of the 112 Ukraine channel. According to a LIGA.net interlocutor, the network paid MEPs to praise dictator Vladimir Putin and Russia in the European media, as well as publish its own anti-Ukrainian and anti-European materials on the Voice of Europe website.
Members of the European Parliament are now demanding a thorough investigation into pro-Russian influence.
