Across Europe, concern is mounting over persistent foreign interference in domestic politics — a trend that becomes particularly visible ahead of key events such as elections. One of the most frequently used channels for such meddling, according to investigative reports, is the cultivation of radical or far-right political forces whose activities are orchestrated by Russian intelligence agencies — the FSB, GRU, and SVR. These agencies are often behind the scenes, directing NGOs, media platforms, and political figures.
Pravfond — A Legal Aid Front with a Hidden Agenda
Founded in 2012, the “Fund for the Support and Protection of Compatriots Living Abroad” (“Pravfond”) presents itself as an international legal NGO operating under Russia’s Foreign Ministry and Rossotrudnichestvo. Officially, it claims to defend the rights of Russian speakers abroad. But investigations by Le Monde, OCCRP/DR, and The Guardian paint a different picture.
In 2024, a leak of dozens of internal documents revealed the fund’s ties to Russian intelligence and its role in financing the legal defense of notorious arms dealer Viktor Bout. A trove of nearly 50,000 internal emails obtained by Danish broadcaster DR — and shared with OCCRP and 28 media partners — showed how the Kremlin used Pravfond to advance its global interests: protecting spies, maintaining influence networks, and funding propaganda. Over the past decade, Pravfond awarded more than 1,000 grants worth millions of dollars to individuals and organizations worldwide — all under the banner of defending “compatriots’ rights,” a slogan repeatedly used by Moscow to justify influence campaigns in neighboring countries from the Baltics and Ukraine to Moldova, Georgia, and Kazakhstan.
Despite EU sanctions imposed in 2023, Pravfond continued sending funds to European recipients, pointing to robust, opaque financial channels and possible sanctions violations.
Voice of Europe — A Propaganda Hub in Prague
Another key node in Russia’s influence network was the Prague-based media outlet Voice of Europe. In March 2024, Czech intelligence announced it had uncovered a Moscow-financed operation pushing pro-Kremlin narratives through the site. A Belgian federal investigation later found that Members of the European Parliament had been paid by Voice of Europe to promote messages favorable to the Kremlin.
By spring 2024, the EU banned the platform entirely, labeling it a tool of foreign influence.
A Systemic Strategy, Not Isolated Incidents
A 2024 report by the International Centre for Counter-Terrorism (ICCT), covering ten EU countries, confirmed that such cases are part of a broader Russian playbook. The report identified three main influence channels:
- Pseudo-human rights and cultural organizations acting as cover and intermediaries.
- Media outlets pushing pro-Kremlin narratives and undermining trust in official sources.
- Financial support for radical parties and politicians.
The study singled out far-right parties whose positions — from Euroscepticism to anti-immigration policies — align neatly with Moscow’s interests.
Why the Far Right Suits the Kremlin
The Kremlin’s partnership with Europe’s far-right offers strategic advantages:
- Ideological overlap: Shared anti-liberal rhetoric, rejection of Western human rights norms, and disdain for EU integration.
- Undermining EU unity: Far-right parties weaken Brussels’ ability to coordinate sanctions and policy.
- Weaponizing migration: Exploiting refugee and migrant issues to fuel social division and distract from foreign policy threats.
For Moscow, funding radicals allows it to shape European politics indirectly — influencing public opinion, legislative agendas, and coalition dynamics — without overt intervention. This hybrid approach demands significant investment but yields “political dividends” far beyond the cost.
The Takeaway
The Pravfond and Voice of Europe cases reveal a multi-layered strategy combining financial, media, and political leverage. For the Kremlin, radical movements are an effective conduit for influence. For Europe, they are a growing internal security risk.
Countering this threat requires transparent political financing, stronger independent media, and societal resilience to propaganda. Without these measures, Europe’s democratic institutions risk coming under sustained pressure from both internal actors and hostile foreign powers intent on eroding them.