The European Parliament condemns the contacts of the Catalan independence movement with Russia and demands an investigation

BRUSSELS, April 25 (EUROPA PRESS) -

The European Parliament reiterated this Thursday its condemnation of the "intense contacts" of leaders of the Catalan independence movement with Russia, pointing specifically to former president Carles Puigdemont, and has requested an investigation into Russian interference in the context of the separatist referendum of October 2017. .

In a resolution approved with 429 votes in favor, 27 against and 48 abstentions on Russian interference in the European Parliament with an eye on the next European elections in June, MEPs have denounced Russian influence within the institution, pointing out that Moscow bought to MEPs "to spread Russian propaganda" and "create a network of dependencies through European political parties that act as amplifiers of Kremlin propaganda."

Among the specific episodes of Russian interference mentioned in the resolution is that of the MEP and former president of the Generalitat, whom it singles out for his contacts with the former Russian diplomat Nikolai Sadovnikov on the eve of the October 1 referendum.

Thus, the European Parliament condemns the "alleged intense contacts and meetings" between Russian agents and Catalan independence activists and requests a study from the European Center of Excellence for the Fight against Hybrid Threats in Helsinki.

It also calls on the competent judicial authorities to investigate the connections of MEPs allegedly linked to the Kremlin and attempts at Russian interference in the EU, in addition to "deploring all attacks against judges investigating any interference activity."

This resolution comes after the case of the Latvian MEP Tatjana Zdanoka, sanctioned by the European Parliament after journalistic investigations revealed that she has been working for Russian Intelligence for decades. Among other parties and leaders pointed out by the European Parliament resolution is Marine Le Pen, in France, whose economic relations with Moscow stand out, as well as the Austrian party FPÖ or the German far-right AfD, whose meetings with the party of Vladimir Putin.

Regarding the German formation, the text approved by the European Parliament points to information that Petr Bystron, a prominent member of the AfD, would have accepted payments of up to 25,000 euros to spread pro-Russian propaganda. It also points to recent allegations against a party parliamentary aide linked to a Chinese spy network.

Furthermore, the European Parliament indicates its concern about the "policy and positions of the Hungarian Government under the leadership of Viktor Orban", ensuring that it assumes "pro-Russian and pro-Chinese positions" on numerous occasions.