European Parliament will denounce Russian interference in Catalonia and ask Spain to investigate links between the independence movement and the Kremlin

BRUSELAS, 7 Feb. (EUROPA PRESS) -

Tomorrow the European Parliament will denounce in a resolution Russian interference during the independence process in Catalonia and will ask that the connections of MEPs allegedly associated with the Kremlin be effectively investigated, in a text that has been agreed upon by the majority of groups, including socialists and greens. .

The joint resolution on Russian interference in democratic processes in Europe, among other things, calls on Spain to investigate the connections between Catalan separatism and the Kremlin, in line with the instruction of the judicial case that indicates that Carles Puigdemont's entourage established links with former Russian diplomats within the framework of the independence struggle in 2017.

The text agreed upon by the majority formations in the European Parliament, to which Europa Press has had access, expresses the "deep concern" of the European Parliament about the "alleged relations between the Catalan secessionists and the Russian administration" and points out that Russian interference in Catalonia "would be part of a broader Russian strategy to promote internal destabilization and disunity of the EU."

In this sense, it indicates that Moscow has organized "massive disinformation campaigns in Catalonia" and points to the "alleged deep contacts" and meetings between Russian agents and members of the independence movement.

For all these reasons, the resolution asks the competent judicial authorities to "effectively investigate the connections of members of the European Parliament allegedly associated with the Kremlin and Russia's attempts at destabilization and interference in the EU", a reference that fits the situation of the former Catalan president and current Junts MEP, although he is not expressly named.

Likewise, regarding the situation of the judges studying the ties of Catalan separatism with Russian Intelligence, the common proposal "deplores" all attacks against the judges investigating this case.

This resolution, which will be approved tomorrow in plenary session, comes after the debate in the European Parliament in which the vice president of the European Commission, Margaritis Schinas, made express mention of the ties of Catalan secessionism with Russian officials, echoing the information on "close and regular contacts", including visits organized between 2017 and 2020.

Schinas called for the European Parliament to carry out an internal investigation into cases of Russian interference, after accusations against Latvian MEP Tatjana Zdanoka also came to light for collaborating for two decades with the Federal Security Service (FSB) of Russia.

"It is the duty of this house to investigate who did what, under what conditions, to play Moscow's game," he stated in a general request to investigate the alleged relations with the Kremlin but after pointing specifically to the case of the Catalan independence movement.

The resolution agreed by the main parties points the finger at other European political forces for their alleged links to Russian espionage. Apart from the Dzanoka case, the European Parliament will denounce the alleged financial support offered by Moscow to the National Front in France, Matteo Salvini's Lega in Italy or the Austrian far-right party FPO, as well as support for the campaign to leave the Kingdom. Union of the EU.

It also mentions that a worker affiliated with the ultra Alternative for Germany and linked to a German deputy in the Bundestag was identified as a contact person for the Russian FSB.