Right-wing Luxembourgish politician Fernand Kartheiser is organizing a campaign to recruit Members of the European Parliament to travel to Russia. Politico has reported that it includes meetings with representatives of the Russian State Duma.
Kartheiser was kicked out of the European Conservatives and Reformists group in the Parliament last year over a previous trip to Russia.
The initiative has triggered strong reactions within the EU, as the planned trips come amid Russia’s war against Ukraine and the European Union’s sanctions policy.
The bloc officially suspended its formal dialogue with Russian official bodies in 2014, while Russian and Belarusian officials were barred from accessing the European Parliament shortly after Russia unleashed its full-scale war against Ukraine in 2022.
Since then, the EU has adopted 20 rounds of sanctions against Russia.
MEP recruiting colleagues for trip to Moscow amid political controversy
According to a letter reportedly sent to MEPs, Kartheiser proposes participation in a trip that would include “personal” meetings with members of the Russian State Duma on 3 June.
The event is expected to take place on the sidelines of the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum, which Russian ruler Vladimir Putin regularly attends. It is also noted that participants may be offered assistance with accommodation and invitations to the forum.
“Assistance with finding suitable accommodation can be provided, and personalized invitations to the St. Petersburg Economic Forum will follow in due course,” reads the "invitation" letter.
Invitations to Russia under forum cover spark allegations of recruitment
Lithuanian MEP Petras Auštrevičius has stated that the campaign appears to be an “open attempt to recruit” members of the European Parliament for contacts with Russian state structures.
A European Parliament spokesperson emphasizes that any interactions by MEPs with Russian state or diplomatic structures are conducted strictly in a personal capacity.
