Belgium has launched an investigation into alleged Russian interference in the upcoming EU elections

Belgian prosecutors have launched an investigation into alleged Russian interference in the European Parliament elections, which will be held in June, Reuters and Bloomberg report, citing Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croe.

According to him, investigators confirmed information from the intelligence services about the existence of a Russian intelligence network that is trying to reduce the level of support for Ukraine in the EU.

“The goal is to help elect as many pro-Russian candidates as possible to the European Parliament and to strengthen a certain pro-Russian narrative in this institution,” De Cros told reporters.

The prime minister noted that Belgium began an investigation after the Czech authorities reported on the discovery of a pro-Russian network, whose members tried to influence European deputies, including through bribery.

An AFP source at the Belgian prosecutor's office clarified that the agency began its investigation on April 11.

• At the end of March, Czech authorities announced that they had uncovered a pro-Russian network that was trying to influence public opinion in Europe, including with the aim of interfering in the elections to the European Parliament. Part of this network included the news website Voice of Europe, which Czech authorities believe was financed and controlled by Russia, as well as Ukrainian politician Viktor Medvedchuk and producer Artem Marchevsky. After the discovery of the network, the Czech authorities imposed sanctions against them.