16 MEPs collaborated with Medvedchuk's influence project — report
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Journalists have analyzed 50 videos on the YouTube channel of the pro-Russian online platform Voice of Europe and found that 16 members of the European Parliament (MEPs) collaborated with the resource by providing comments and interviews, according to an investigation published by Politico on April 11.
In October 2023, Dutch far-right lawmaker Marcel de Graaff declared from a TV studio inside the European Parliament, "If this is a clash of civilizations, I hope the civilization in Ukraine loses." The video was then posted on the Voice of Europe website.
German far-right politician Maximilian Krah, addressing four other studio participants, said that Ukraine "should become a demilitarized buffer zone."
An analysis of video content on the Voice of Europe channel revealed that 16 MEPs have collaborated with the channel in various ways. However, the resource has only 351 subscribers on YouTube and 60,000 views since last summer.
Its reach on social media platforms Twitter and Facebook was significantly broader, however.
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During interviews, several MEPs dismissed the prospect of Ukraine joining the EU, blamed Ukraine for starting the war, highlighted the challenges faced by Ukraine on the frontlines, insisted on urgent peace negotiations with Russia, opposed providing additional weapons to Ukraine, urged Kyiv to make concessions, and warned that the conflict could escalate.
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Politico journalists contacted 13 of the MEPs. All of them denied receiving honorariums for their cooperation or being offered money.
On March 27, the Czech Foreign Ministry imposed sanctions against Ukrainian businessman Viktor Medvedchuk, claiming he directed a "Russian influence operation" through Voice of Europe.
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Belgian PM Alexander De Croo said on March 28 that several MEP received money from a “Russian influence network.” He mentioned "close cooperation" between Belgian and Czech intelligence services to dismantle said network.
Czech intelligence services said that content produced by Voice of Europe was controlled and financed directly by Russia.
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Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine
