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Russiagate: allegations of Russian interference in the democratic processes of the European Union

TA-9-2024-0079 · P9_TA(2024)0079 · PE756.867

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✦ In short · AI summary of this text, generated 15 Oct 2026

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Parliament's resolution responds to allegations of Russian interference in EU democratic processes, including reports that MEP Tatjana Ždanoka may have acted as an FSB informant. It condemns Russian disinformation, funding of political parties and politicians, and contacts with secessionists in Catalonia, and calls for investigations and sanctions. It asks for stronger internal integrity rules, an independent ethics body, a ban on MEPs' paid side jobs for listed organisations or non-EU countries, and a ban on entities linked to Russia's government from the EU Transparency Register. It urges the Commission and Council to deliver the Defence of Democracy package and to protect the 6-9 June 2024 European elections from foreign interference.

Key points

  1. Expresses outrage at Russian efforts to undermine European democracy by recruiting MEPs as agents of influence and calls on member states to tighten sanctions against Russia.
  2. Condemns Russian falsification of European history, including the consequences of the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact, to justify its aggression.
  3. Condemns reports that MEP Tatjana Ždanoka may have acted as an FSB informant and demands thorough investigation by Parliament and the Latvian authorities.
  4. Notes that the MEP concerned was excluded from her political group and is now unaffiliated, and that a small number of MEPs have sided with Russia.
  5. Commits to cooperate with Latvian authorities and calls on them to investigate whether the MEP concerned is liable for prosecution under national criminal law.
  6. Welcomes the referral of the MEP concerned to the Advisory Committee on the Conduct of Members and commits to enforce Parliament's internal sanction framework.
  7. Supports ongoing investigations while stressing respect for due process and the rule of law, and says political choices cannot be criminalised.
  8. Calls for a thorough internal investigation into all possible cases of Russian and other malicious interference in Parliament's work.
  9. Expresses concern about Russian funding of political parties and politicians, including loans and commercial agreements, and about Russian interference in Catalonia.
  10. Condemns Russian interference in Slovakia's elections and the disinformation campaign on platform X exposed by the German Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
  11. Calls for enhanced security culture in Parliament, including mandatory integrity training, stricter scrutiny of events and guests, and stricter rules for foreign-funded trips.
  12. Calls for an independent ethics body, a ban on entities linked to Russia's government from the EU Transparency Register, and a ban on MEPs' paid side jobs for listed organisations or non-EU countries.

Who is affected

  • MEP Tatjana Ždanoka: Parliament calls for investigation into allegations she acted as an FSB informant.
  • Members of the European Parliament: new integrity training, stricter scrutiny of events and trips, and a ban on certain paid side jobs are proposed.
  • Political groups: reminded to monitor their Members' actions and cooperate with authorities.
  • EU institutions and member states: urged to protect the 6-9 June 2024 European elections and fund investigative journalism.
  • Entities with direct or indirect relations with the Government of Russia: the EU Transparency Register Secretariat is asked to ban them.

Figures and deadlines

  • EUR 9,4 million: loan from a Russian bank to Marine Le Pen's party in 2013.
  • 6-9 June 2024: dates of the European elections.
  • 3 October 2005: date of leaked email conversations cited in the allegations.
  • 29 January 2024: date of media reports on the allegations concerning MEP Tatjana Ždanoka.
  • 23 January 2024: date of the EEAS report on Foreign Information Manipulation and Interference Threats.
  • 12 December 2023: date of the Commission communication on Defence of Democracy and the proposal for a directive on transparency of interest representation.