Event 959

{
  "attack_type": "Espionage",
  "category": "InfoOps",
  "confidence": "High",
  "confidence_rationale": "Sanctions by the European Parliament and direct citations of news reports and official statements indicate high confidence.",
  "countries": [
    "Latvia",
    "Russia",
    "European Union"
  ],
  "country": "Latvia",
  "defense_prep": {},
  "description": "The European Parliament sanctioned Latvian MEP Tatjana Ždanoka, accused in media reports of spying for Russia, imposing financial penalties and restricting her access to parliamentary roles due to breaches of the code of conduct.",
  "event_time_utc": "2024-04-10T19:01:00Z",
  "evidence": [
    "Sanctions imposed by the European Parliament following media and criminal investigations into MEP's alleged ties to Russian FSB.",
    "Specific mention of fines and bans for breach of MEP code of conduct concerning undeclared interests and gifts.",
    "Parliamentary administrative probe corroborated by official statement from President Roberta Metsola.",
    "The European Parliament sanctioned Tatjana Ždanoka, a Latvian MEP who was accused in media reports this year of having spied for Russia.",
    "In January, Russian investigative newspaper The Insider reported that Ždanoka had for years been working on behalf of the Russian Federal Security Service (FSB), the successor to the Soviet-era KGB.",
    "The Latvian secret service has launched a criminal case against her, local media reported in March.",
    "The Parliament opened its own administrative probe into the MEP, and President Roberta Metsola announced Wednesday a series of sanctions against Ždanoka, having found her in breach of the MEPs’ own code of conduct."
  ],
  "evidence_quotes": [
    "The European Parliament sanctioned Tatjana Ždanoka, a Latvian MEP who was accused in media reports this year of having 'spied for Russia.'",
    "Russian investigative newspaper The Insider reported that Ždanoka had for years been working on behalf of the Russian Federal Security Service (FSB), the successor to the Soviet-era KGB.",
    "The Latvian secret service has launched a criminal case against her, local media reported in March.",
    "The Parliament opened its own administrative probe into the MEP, and President Roberta Metsola announced Wednesday a series of sanctions against Ždanoka, having found her in breach of the MEPs’ code of conduct.",
    "The sanctions will consist of a five-day fine (of her daily allowance, amounting to €1,570) and she will also be banned from certain roles representing the European Parliament until the end of this mandate in July, after which she is not expected to be an MEP any longer.",
    "The European Parliament sanctioned Tatjana Ždanoka, a Latvian MEP who was accused in media reports this year of having spied for Russia.",
    "In January, Russian investigative newspaper The Insider reported that Ždanoka had for years been working on behalf of the Russian Federal Security Service (FSB), the successor to the Soviet-era KGB.",
    "The Parliament opened its own administrative probe into the MEP, and President Roberta Metsola announced Wednesday a series of sanctions against Ždanoka, having found her in breach of the MEPs’ own code of conduct.",
    "Ždanoka ... breached parts of the vehicle relating to declaring private interests and receiving gifts, Metsola said, without giving more details."
  ],
  "extra": {
    "extra": {
      "extra": {
        "extra": {
          "extra": {
            "extra": {
              "extra": {
                "extra": {
                  "extra": {
                    "evidence": [
                      "Sanctions imposed by the European Parliament following media and criminal investigations into MEP's alleged ties to Russian FSB.",
                      "Specific mention of fines and bans for breach of MEP code of conduct concerning undeclared interests and gifts.",
                      "Parliamentary administrative probe corroborated by official statement from President Roberta Metsola."
                    ]
                  }
                }
              }
            }
          }
        }
      },
      "review": {
        "note": "yea,approved",
        "sources_verified": false
      }
    }
  },
  "follow_up_by_country": [],
  "headline": "EU Parliament fines MEP accused of spying for Russia",
  "investigation_open": true,
  "location_text": "Brussels, European Parliament",
  "media_assets": [
    {
      "description": "Screenshot capture",
      "type": "screenshot",
      "url": "/media/event_959_1763944043_c285b240.jpg"
    }
  ],
  "primary_ref_links": [
    "https://theins.ru/en/politics/267528",
    "https://www.politico.eu/article/european-parliament-fines-mep-tatjana-zdanoka-accused-spying-russia/"
  ],
  "schema_version": "v1",
  "screenshot_count": 1,
  "summary_extended": "The European Parliament imposed sanctions against Latvian MEP Tatjana Ždanoka following accusations of breaching the institution's code of conduct. This follows media reports and a Russian investigative report claiming Ždanoka worked for Russian FSB for years. The Parliament's sanctions include a five-day fine and exclusion from several roles until the end of her mandate, with a separate criminal case opened by Latvian authorities. The case is seen in the wider context of increased Russian intelligence activity aimed at influencing European decision-making.",
  "summary_short": "Latvian MEP Tatjana Ždanoka has been fined and sanctioned by the EU Parliament for undeclared interests following allegations of working for Russian FSB.",
  "url": "https://www.politico.eu/article/european-parliament-fines-mep-tatjana-zdanoka-accused-spying-russia/",
  "where": "Land"
}

{
  "source": "admin_quick",
  "tags": [],
  "url": "https://www.politico.eu/article/european-parliament-fines-mep-tatjana-zdanoka-accused-spying-russia/"
}