“Citing sources in European intelligence services, The Guardian has learned that Belgian politicians and high-ranking financial executives have become the target of a campaign of intimidation organized by Russian intelligence to convince the country to block the use of Russian assets for Ukraine.”, — write: www.pravda.com.ua
Illustrative photo by Getty Images Source: “European truth” with reference to The Guardian
Details: According to the intelligence services of European countries, the Russian intelligence campaign is directed in particular against the key figures of Euroclear, the securities depository that stores most of Russia’s frozen assets, and the country’s top politicians.
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The Guardian’s interlocutors believe that Russian military intelligence (also known as the GRU) is responsible for the campaign, although there is controversy over the extent of the threat.
“They are undoubtedly using intimidation tactics,” an unnamed European official told the publication.
According to The Guardian, it is known that the executive director of Euroclear, Valerie Urben, received threats from Russia. In November, the media reported that she has been walking with a bodyguard for more than a year.
Euroclear declined to comment, saying any potential threats “are treated as a matter of priority and thoroughly investigated, often with the support of the relevant authorities.” Similarly, the Prime Minister of Belgium, Bart De Wever, did not want to comment on the situation.
According to Politico, at the latest negotiations at the level of EU ambassadors on the use of Russian assets to finance Ukraine, Belgium said there was no progress towards a joint solution.
As of Tuesday, the chancellor of Germany equally assessed the chances of passing and not passing the decision.
More on the topic in the article: The EU is looking for money for Kyiv. Why is Belgium “blocking” the financing of Ukraine at the expense of the assets of the Russian Federation