On Russiagate: allegations of Russian interference in the democratic processes of the European Union
B-9-2024-0128
on behalf of the ECR Group · Rapporteur: Beata Szydło, Ryszard Czarnecki, Anna Fotyga, Angel Dzhambazki, Jacek SaryuszWolski, Jadwiga Wiśniewska, Bogdan Rzońca, Beata Mazurek, Dominik Tarczyński, Adam Bielan, Witold Jan Waszczykowski, Joachim Stanisław Brudziński, Roberts Zīle, Elżbieta Rafalska, Charlie Weimers, Waldemar Tomaszewski, Hermann Tertsch, Andżelika Anna Możdżanowska
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This is a motion for a resolution on allegations of Russian interference in the democratic processes of the European Union. It calls for investigations into Latvian MEP Tatjana Ždanoka, into the Nord Stream case, and into Russian support for secessionist movements in Spain.¶¶¶ It asks Parliament to take further measures against possible infiltration by Russian intelligence, and calls on member states to ban former prime ministers and cabinet members from taking positions in Russian state-owned companies.¶¶ It condemns Russian disinformation, the use of migrants as a weapon at EU borders, and the weaponisation of culture, and warns against opening EU borders to Russian citizens leaving the country.¶¶¶
Key points
- Expects the Latvian authorities to open a criminal counterintelligence investigation into Tatjana Ždanoka's activities based on evidence published by The Insider.¶
- Welcomes President Metsola's decision to investigate the Ždanoka case inside Parliament and refer it to the Advisory Committee on the Conduct of Members; considers her actions in breach of the Code of Conduct and calls for her suspension from all Parliament activities.¶
- Calls for further swift action and more effective measures in Parliament to target possible infiltration by Russian and other hostile intelligence services.¶
- Calls on the Commission to launch an internal investigation into the handling of the Nord Stream case and Russian influence during the planning and building of the pipelines.¶
- Reiterates concerns over Russian support for secessionist movements in the EU, deplores the case of Spanish secessionist movements that attempted a coup d'état in 2017, and notes reports on Russian destabilisation activities in Spain.¶¶
- Notes ongoing criminal proceedings in Spain over Russian economic and military support offered to associates of Carles Puigdemont, and the Spanish National High Court's request to investigate him on terrorism charges.¶
- Condemns testimony that Russia offered to send 10 000 soldiers and pay off Catalan regional debt if Catalonia recognised Crimea as Russian territory.¶
- Underlines that criminal investigations into spying fall under member state competence; welcomes special investigative committees in several EU countries and regrets that some who dismantled spy networks are persecuted on political grounds.¶
- Strongly condemns former high-level politicians joining the Russian payroll after their political careers, and insists member states forbid former prime ministers and cabinet members from accepting positions in state-owned companies from Russia, China, Iran and other autocratic states.¶
- Is concerned about Russia weaponising culture and using Russian citizens working in this field as agents of influence and spies.¶
- Warns against opening EU borders to Russian people leaving to avoid being drafted or escaping economic hardships, as some could promote the Russian narrative and propaganda, as has happened in Georgia and Serbia.¶
- Strongly condemns Russia's practice of using illegal migrants as weapons and forcibly pushing them into EU territory, and warns that Russian spying activities in Europe are on the rise.¶¶
Who is affected
- Latvia: expected to open a criminal counterintelligence investigation into Tatjana Ždanoka.¶
- European Parliament: called to take measures against infiltration and to suspend Ms Ždanoka.¶¶
- European Commission: asked to investigate the Nord Stream case and Russian influence.¶
- Member states: urged to ban former prime ministers and cabinet members from Russian state-owned company positions.¶
- Russian citizens leaving the country: warned against opening EU borders to them.¶
Figures and deadlines
- 10 000 troops offered by Russia to Catalonia if independence was declared.¶¶
- over 3 million Russian-speaking population in Germany.¶
- 24 February 2022: date before and after which Russian funding of political activities is revealed.¶
- 2017: year of the attempted coup d'état by Spanish secessionist movements.¶¶
- autumn 2021: Russia transported migrants to borders with Poland, Lithuania and Latvia.¶
- 2023: Russia transported migrants to its border with Finland.
- 2014: Ms Ždanoka placed under investigation by Latvia's security authorities.¶
- 2018 and 2019: Elizaveta Peskova worked as a trainee with an MEP.¶