The Latvian Security Service investigates a MEP accused of collaborating with Russia

Latvian MEP Tatjana Zdanoka is under investigation for alleged collaboration with Russian intelligence services, as reported by the Latvian State Security Service. The criminal case was opened on February 22 following an investigation by the European Parliament into Zdanoka’s alleged ties with the Russian Federal Security Service (FSB). The Russian-language Latvian newspaper The Insider claimed that Zdanoka had been collaborating with Russian secret services since her election in 2004.

The investigation is reportedly based on emails that Zdanoka allegedly sent to contacts in Russia, providing detailed information about her work as a Member of the European Parliament. Zdanoka has denied these allegations, stating that one of the alleged Russian contacts was a childhood friend, according to the Baltic Center for Investigative Journalism. A spokesperson for Zdanoka has mentioned the possibility of filing a lawsuit against those responsible for these accusations.

In addition to the investigation, Zdanoka, who is considered close to the Catalan independence movement, has been accused of soliciting funds to finance her political activities in Latvia and the European Parliament. The European Parliament recently called for an internal investigation into Russian interference in the Catalan independence process, specifically pointing to contacts between former Catalan President Carles Puigdemont and former Russian spies in 2017.

The resolution, approved with 433 votes in favor, 56 against, and 18 abstentions, highlighted Russian interference in European democratic processes and urged Spanish authorities to investigate connections between Catalan separatism and the Kremlin. A specific mention was made of Puigdemont allegedly meeting with a former Russian diplomat before the independence referendum in October 2017. The European Parliament also called for a thorough investigation into MEPs allegedly associated with the Kremlin and Russia’s attempts at destabilization in the EU.