Putin also tries to disrupt and influence European politics by supporting far-right groups as well as individual politicians in various parties, and enticing former and current European politicians into top jobs in Russian companies. As a result, European governments are often reluctant to impose sanctions on Russia or take other tough measures to restrict the Kremlin because there are so many vested interests within Europe.
A team of three journalists based in the UK, France and Austria, with decades of experience writing about Russia and international politics for major news outlets, conduct their investigation about the people in Europe who have promoted the Kremlin’s agenda, from supporting the breakup of the EU to pushing for the removal of sanctions on Russia. First articles for the project by Sarah Hurst are about a visit by British far right activist Tommy Robinson to Russia and a group of British academics who are “reframing Russia”. During the COVID-19 pandemic we are seeing Putin and other authoritarian leaders try to strengthen their hand even further.
Photocredit: Sarah Hurst, The Kremlin’s European Favourites
