EU urges Spain to investigate 'alleged links' between Russia and Catalan independence movement

On Thursday, the European Parliament voted overwhelmingly in favor of a resolution urging the Spanish judicial authorities to “effectively” investigate the “alleged links” between Catalan MEPs and the Kremlin, as well as Russia’s attempts to “destabilize and interfere in the European Union and its member states.”

A total of 433 MEPs voted in favor of the resolution, which also expresses the Parliament’s “deep concern” over the “large-scale disinformation campaign launched by Russia in Catalonia.”

56 MEPs voted against the resolution, while 18 abstained.

The resolution was put forward by the conservative European People’s Party and the liberals of Renew Europe, and argues that the alleged Russian interference in Catalonia is part of a “broader” strategy by the Kremlin to “promote internal destabilization and disunity” in the EU.

For this reason, the Parliament urges the Spanish authorities to investigate and condemn “all attacks on judges investigating the interference.”

Amendments by Spanish parties

Spanish conservative People’s Party (PP) and Ciutadans added some amendments to the resolution that would include explicit references to the Catalan independence movement and its leaders.

PP MEP Javier Zarzalejos, added the name of former Catalan president Carles Puigdemont to the resolution, arguing that some media reports have mentioned alleged meetings between Puigdemont and Russian ex-diplomatic Nikolai Sadovnikov before the independence referendum of October 1, 2017.

Meanwhile, Ciutadans MEP Adrián Vázquez added “deep concerns” over Latvian MEP Tatjana Ždanoka’s openness to granting amnesty to Catalan independence leaders. Ždanoka is currently under investigation for being a Russian informant.

The vote came two days after the European Parliament debated Russian interference in the EU.

Junts per Catalunya MEP, Toni Comín, said that the accusations were “false,” adding that one of the goals of the Catalan independence movement is for Catalonia to become part of the European Union.