The revelation is based on the leaked e-mails of a member of the European Parliament known to be pro-Russia.
The revelation, made in cooperation between Swedish, Baltic and Russian journalists, is based on leaked e-mails of the parliamentarian to his contacts in the Russian intelligence service.
Latvian MEP Tatjana Ždanoka73, has worked for at least two dozen years as a spy for the Russian intelligence service FSB, said the Swedish newspaper Expressen on Monday. The magazine’s information is based on investigative journalism carried out in cooperation with the Russian Insider news site, the Latvian Re:Baltica site and the Estonian Delfi site.
The source of the information has been Ždanoka’s leaked e-mails, which he has sent to two different contacts at the FSB. Ždanoka is suspected of having spied for Russia at least between 2004 and 2017.
The MEP is known for his support for Russia
Ždanoka has long been known for his open support for Russia anyway. Among other things, he has spread information about crimes allegedly committed against Russians in the Baltics and pursued a policy with a positive attitude toward Russia.
Ždanoka refused to answer Insider’s questions.
– These questions are based on information that you allegedly have, but which you should not have, Ždanoka replied by email.
The MEP did not deny in itself that the leaked emails were genuine. However, he denied knowing that their recipients were employed by the FSB.
– The only people with whom I have sat at the same table and whom I know for sure are FSB officers are Vladimir Putin and (Director of Russian Foreign Intelligence) Sergei Naryshkin.
Disclosure “not a surprise”
Swedish MEP and former Minister of Culture Alice Bah Kuhnkewho belonged to the same European Parliament faction as Ždanoka in the early 2000s, considered the news “terrible, but not surprising”.
– As a former Swedish minister, I know how Russia and Putin’s agents work, and they have networks everywhere, Kuhnke said.
An anonymous intelligence source told Insider that Ždanoka’s spying was not motivated by money.
– He doesn’t need money, enough of it comes from the European Parliament. He uses his own money for his party’s activities, the source said.