Czech and Belgian PMs warn EU leaders of Russian interference in EP elections

The Czech and Belgian prime ministers have sent a letter to EU leaders about Russian attempts to interfere in the European Parliament elections, EP President Roberta Metsola told journalists on Wednesday ahead of an extraordinary EU summit. Prime ministers Petr Fiala and Alexander De Croo wrote in their letter, which De Croo shared on social media site X, that the attempted Russian interference "involved the transfer of cash, primarily in the Czech Republic."

Czechia calls in the letter for the inclusion of the media company Voice of Europe on European sanctions lists, as well as other individuals and legal entities involved in the Russian-funded influence network uncovered by the Czech counter-intelligence agency BIS in March. "We simply cannot allow Russia to get away with such a blatant attack on our democratic institutions and principles. We must arm ourselves against this both at the national and European level," the two prime ministers wrote.

The Czech daily Deník N and the German weekly Der Spiegel reported that money has been flowing from Russia via Voice of Europe to right-wing European politicians, including German MP Petr Bystron, the number two European candidate for the Alternative for Germany (AfD) party.