Russia seems to have spies or informants everywhere. That image persists after a series of revelations about Russian clandestine activities in Europe. For example, it emerged how a Latvian MEP had been in contact with ‘handlers’ who were part of the ‘Fifth Service’ since at least 2005. This department within the Russian intelligence service FSB was responsible, among other things, for attempts at political destabilization of Ukraine in the run-up to the invasion of February 2022. The spies employed there look for sympathizers for the Russian cause. They try to get information from them and use them for pro-Russian propaganda.
Appointment at South Station
Latvian Tatjana Zdanoka (73), who has been in the European Parliament since 2004, served in that role for many years. The investigative site The Insider on Monday released leaked emails going back and forth between Zdanoka and FSB spies.
The first date from October 2005. In it, the MP sent the draft agenda and press text of a conference in Estonia on “the experiences of Russian politicians” in local authorities and cooperation with NGOs. (There is a large Russian community in the Baltic states, which is a source of tension.) An email from October 2006 also shows that Zdanoka met her Russian handler at Brussels South Station.
What exactly was discussed during such meetings cannot always be deduced from the messages. Sometimes Zdanoka would post what she had been working on by email. For example, it concerns a hearing on demonstrations in Estonia, training camps for Latvian and Estonian pro-Russian organizations, or the proposal to commemorate the Russian victory over Nazi Germany in Latvia. To cover the costs, Zdanoka asked her FSB handler for more than 5,000 euros.
Years of suspicion
When the Soviet Union collapsed, Zdanoka, the daughter of a Soviet officer, opposed Latvia’s secession. Due to her background and political origins, there had been suspicions for years that her sympathies for Russia went beyond attempts to strengthen ties between East and West. The Latvian was part of the Greens/European Free Alliance group in the European Parliament, from which she was expelled in 2022 after voting against a condemnation of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. The Swedish vice-chairman of the faction, Alice Bah Kuhnke, calls The Insider the news about Zdanoka “terrible but not surprising”. “Having been a minister in Sweden, I know how Russia and Putin’s agents work, and I know that they have networks everywhere.”
The tentacles reach into the German federal parliament, it became apparent on Thursday. Then the weekly Der Spiegel, together with – again – The Insider, announced that the employee of a member of parliament from the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) is also a Russian intelligence agent. It concerns 52-year-old Vladimir Sergienko, who works for AfD member Eugen Schmidt. Born in Ukraine, Sergienko has already made a name for himself with his outspoken support for Russia’s war against his hometown. He also initiated a lawsuit to delay the delivery of German Leopard tanks to Ukraine. He is said to have done this at the direction of his handler, who is also part of the ‘Fifth Service’ within the FSB.
Spy a rapper
In March last year, Sergienko sent this message to that spy: “The work of the government will be hampered. This is to our advantage because the tanks will either be delivered much later than planned or a court order will be imposed.” He asked for about 85,000 euros to finance that lawsuit. Sergienko himself denies that he has ties to the Russian intelligence apparatus. Schmidt, the AfD member for whom he works, did not address the accusations against his employee to Der Spiegel.
In both the Latvian and German cases, The Insider names the Russian handlers. Personal details also emerge. For example, the FSB spy with whom the parliamentary assistant had contact is also said to have a career as a rapper.
These exposures come on top of those made by Russian businessman Viktor Labin earlier this week. He is accused of helping Russia to circumvent Western sanctions from Uccle.