Roberta Metsola, the President of the European Parliament, has requested an investigation into the actions of Luxembourg MP Fernand Kartheiser. This follows reports of his multiple visits to Russia since 2022 and his communications with Russian parliamentary members.
According to Politico, which obtained a copy of Metsola’s letter, Kartheiser has already been expelled from the European Conservatives and Reformists group in the Parliament due to his trip to Moscow. His most recent visit occurred on June 3, 2026, when he attended the International Economic Forum in St. Petersburg.
In addition to his travels, Kartheiser has reportedly engaged in at least four calls with members of the Russian State Duma. He has stated that his intentions are to “help establish peace during Russia’s war in Ukraine.”
Metsola expressed concern regarding a joint declaration signed by Kartheiser and other European Parliament members with officials from the Russian Duma, in which both parties agreed to “continue and deepen” their cooperation. In her letter dated June 11, Metsola emphasized that these statements “raise serious concerns” as they could “distort the position of the Parliament.”
The European Parliament officially suspended communication with Russian legislative bodies in 2014, and access to the Parliament building has been prohibited for Russian officials since 2022.
Roberta Metsola has called for an investigation into Luxembourg MP Fernand Kartheiser's interactions with Russian officials, raising concerns about potential breaches of parliamentary protocol. Kartheiser's visits to Russia and communications with the Russian Duma have sparked significant scrutiny.