The European Parliament (EP) initiated an investigation into Latvian member Tatjana Ždanoka, following allegations that she may have been working as a Russian agent for several years. The allegations have ignited worry among the parliamentarians, as there is concern that other Russian agents could be operating covertly within the organization.
The allegations against Ždanoka were made by The Insider, an online Russian newspaper, in partnership with other investigative journalism bodies in Latvia, Estonia, Russia, and Sweden. These organizations allege that Ždanoka was working with the FSB, Russia’s principal security agency, for at least 15 years. Uncovered emails hint at her work as a Member of the European Parliament (MEP), and also mention requests for “funding from Russian sources to finance her political operations in Latvia and the European Parliament.”
This revelation has incited other Latvian MEPs to express their fears about the possible presence of more Russian spies in the European Parliament. In a tweet, Sandra Kalniete, a Latvian MEP and former Foreign Minister stated, “Having Russian agents in the EP poses a security risk and is a disgrace. Ždanoka is not an isolated case, it’s time to get our house in order.”
Ždanoka was expelled from the European Free Alliance (EFA) in April 2022, after refusing to condemn Putin’s invasion of Ukraine. She participated in a protest at the EP wearing a t-shirt bearing the phrase “stop killing Donbas children,” a charge attributed to Ukraine by Russia, which served as a trigger for the invasion. In the wake of the released news report, the EFA has made an announcement about the suspension of the Latvian-Russian Union (LRU) and plans to propose its expulsion from the EFA. The EFA statement highlighted, “any actions that undermine the EU’s independence or expose it to foreign influences are gravely worrisome to us.”
The unfolding situation heightens the need for increased vigilance against potential threats to the integrity of international bodies such as the European Parliament. With the EP commencing its investigation into one of its own, this incident presents a sobering reminder of the complexities and behind-the-scenes manoeuvrings that often go under the radar in international politics.