Worries about the Ott case

Closeness to Russia: FPÖ faces trouble from EU Parliament

(Bild: AFP/APA/Frederick Florin)

In a resolution on Thursday denouncing new allegations of Russian influence in the European Parliament and in the upcoming EU elections, the EU Parliament also condemned the FPÖ's proximity to Russia. The resolution received a clear majority with 429 votes in favor, 27 against and 48 abstentions.

Among other things, the resolution addresses the "friendship treaty" between the FPÖ and Putin's United Russia party and the espionage affair surrounding Egisto Ott. The EU Parliament expressed "its concern about the Austrian espionage case in which former Austrian intelligence officer Egisto Ott, who is said to be closely linked to FPÖ politician Hans-Jörg Jenewein, is accused of spying for Russia and illegally retrieving personal data from police databases, including the transfer of cell phone data of former high-ranking Austrian officials to the Russian secret service".

AfD and Le Pen party also criticized
Parliament also reiterates its condemnation of "political partnerships between far-right parties in Europe and the Russian leadership". In addition to the "partnership agreement between the Freedom Party of Austria (FPÖ) and Putin's United Russia party", the relations between Marine Le Pen's party in France and the "leadership of the AfD" in Germany are also cited as examples. The AfD is called upon to "immediately disclose its financial relationships, in particular with the Kremlin".

Russia has systematically maintained contacts with far-right and far-left parties in order to gain the support of institutional actors in the Union and thus legitimize its illegal and criminal actions.

Aus der Resolution des EU-Parlaments

FPÖ - Le Pen axis: Dominik Nepp, Marine Le Pen and Maximilian Krauss (from right)

(Bild: FPÖ Wien)

Former constitutional protector Egisto Ott in his sights
The FPÖ has already been criticized several times for its proximity to Russia and the party of President Vladimir Putin. On December 19, 2016, for example, the Freedom Party signed the "friendship treaty" with Putin's party "United Russia" cited by parliament. According to the FPÖ, this has since been terminated. Former domestic intelligence officer Egisto Ott is accused, among other things, of spying for the Russian secret service FSB and passing on sensitive information to politicians.

Former constitutional protection officer Egisto Ott is accused, among other things, of spying for the Russian secret service FSB and passing on sensitive information to politicians.

(Bild: stock.adobe.com, youtube.com, Krone KREATIV)

Parliament is "appalled by the credible allegations that some MPs were paid to spread Russian propaganda". Such tactics must "lead to consequences". The resolution expresses "outrage at the involvement of Members of the European Parliament in a pro-Russian media company, Voice of Europe". The controversial Czech news portal was accused of Russian propaganda and expelled from the Czech Republic.

Resolutions of the EU Parliament have no legal consequences. EU Parliament President Roberta Metsola was asked to forward the resolution to the Council (of Member States), the Commission and the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs.

Vilimsky: "FPÖ has zero contacts with the Putin regime! " 
"The FPÖ has not a single contact with the Putin regime. A resolution put to the vote in the European Parliament today, which implies this, is pure nonsense, just like much of what is being decided in this EU madhouse," explained Harald Vilimsky, FPÖ Head of Delegation in the EU Parliament, in a statement on Thursday. The fact is that only the FPÖ has a balanced relationship with all states and really brings Austrian neutrality to life in its policies.

Influence on the EU was only documented in the case of former parliamentary leader and Social Democrat Eva Kaili and her red networks. Suitcases full of cash had been confiscated from her, paid out by Qatar and Morocco. "The socialist network that was involved here and acted on behalf of foreign states in the EU Parliament has so far been completely swept under the carpet," criticized Vilimsky.