Does Putin want to split Spain?

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The EU is concerned that Moscow is supporting separatist movements in Europe to destabilize the West. The European Parliament’s foreign affairs committee has approved a report examining alleged links between the Catalan separatist movement and Russia.

The report not only examines interference in EU states, but also the technological threat to democratic processes. It is generally about Russia’s influence on separatist movements in European countries, but only Catalonia is mentioned by name. That writes euractiv.de. It was previously said that the Kremlin had supported the right-wing Italian League.

Competent authorities are asked to “carry out a comprehensive investigation to fully clarify the incidents”. In particular, the European Knowledge Center for Countering Hybrid Threats in Helsinki is invited to conduct a study.

Parliament is also calling for an investigation into links between former Catalan president and MEP Carles Puigdemont, 60, and Russian officials.

Catalonia fights back

People are furious in the Catalan capital Barcelona. Catalan Foreign Minister Meritxell Serret (47) assures euractiv.de: “The Catalan government has no relations with Russia, nor with persons associated with the Russian government, nor has it maintained such relations.” The government believes the aim is “to divert attention from the espionage scandal against Catalan independents”.

Between 2017 and 2020, the cell phones of at least 63 Catalan separatist leaders were hacked and tapped using Israeli Pegasus spy software, according to a report by Canada-based research group Citizen Lab. (gf)

Source: Blick