Police search European Parliament employee's home, offices over possible Russian interference
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00:00 At the end of this corridor, Belgian investigators are searching the office of a European Parliament
00:05 assistant. Police raids are not only underway here, but also at offices in Brussels, Strasbourg
00:11 and at the aid's home. According to a statement released by Belgian prosecutors,
00:16 the searches are part of a case of interference, passive corruption and membership of a criminal
00:21 organisation and relates to indications of Russian interference whereby members of the
00:26 European Parliament were approached and paid to promote Russian propaganda.
00:30 The target of Wednesday's raid was Guillaume Produra, a former French Parliamentary
00:35 assistant to Maximilien Cras of the far-right Alternative for Germany party. Investigators
00:42 suspect him of allegedly receiving payments from Russia and China. His office was also searched in
00:47 early May. In April, Belgian prosecutors opened an investigation into allegations of meddling,
00:54 this after Czech intelligence exposed a network of influence financed by Moscow.
00:58 Its aim? To amplify Russian propaganda about Ukraine and get more pro-Moscow candidates elected.
01:04 Maximilien Cras now embroiled in scandal. One of his parliamentary aides was arrested last
01:10 month on suspicion of spying for China. Cras says he's a victim of a conspiracy.
01:15 "Of course there are spies in Germany. And of course there are also spies within the AfD,
01:21 spies from the German intelligence services." Last week, Cras announced he'd stop campaigning
01:27 for the European Parliamentary elections over comments he made about Nazi SS officers.
01:32 Despite this, he still remains the lead candidate for the AfD.