Study highlights voting patterns aligned with Moscow
The Czech news portal Czechia Online has published findings from a joint investigation by EU Observer and Novaja Gazeta Europe, identifying European lawmakers whose voting records on resolutions concerning Russia and Belarus place them consistently on the pro-Russian side. According to the analysis, three Czech representatives — Ondřej Dostál, communist leader Kateřina Konečná and Ivan David — appear among the twelve most Moscow-aligned members of the European Parliament. The full overview of voting behaviour was reported by Czechia Online, including the detailed list available through its review of pro-Russian collaborators in the European Parliament.
Ivan David ranked third overall, having voted against Ukraine 15 times and abstained twice. Konečná, who shares fourth place with Slovak MEP Erik Kaliňák, supported pro-Russian positions 15 times and missed two votes. In total, the list includes 21 names: eight from Germany, six from Slovakia, three from the Czech Republic, two from Bulgaria, and one each from Greece and Poland.
Pro-Russian votes fuel concerns over EU unity
The voting data suggest that Russian influence efforts inside European institutions increasingly rely on legal political mechanisms rather than covert operations. While such activity may not violate formal rules, it creates openings for disinformation, weakens EU cohesion and complicates decision-making on Ukraine. Analysts warn that Moscow uses sympathetic lawmakers as “Trojan horses”, amplifying narratives of division within the EU and providing the Kremlin with talking points that portray Europe as internally conflicted.
Pro-Russian votes rarely change the final outcome, but each instance generates media material for Russian state outlets, which frame dissent as evidence of “fatigue” with supporting Ukraine. This dynamic undermines trust in EU institutions and contributes to polarisation among European publics.
Some MEPs who support Russian-aligned positions do so out of ideological conviction, often rooted in far-left or far-right political traditions with long-standing affinities for authoritarian regimes. Their anti-establishment rhetoric provides a convenient bridge for Kremlin talking points, turning them into inadvertent enablers of Moscow’s agenda.
Implications for Czech politics and European security
The presence of three Czech MEPs on the list carries particular risks for Prague. It weakens the country’s image as a reliable supporter of Ukraine and encourages Russian disinformation targeting Czech public opinion. The political climate may further shift under incoming prime minister Andrej Babiš, whose scepticism regarding assistance to Ukraine could offer implicit cover to pro-Russian voices in the Czech delegation to the European Parliament.
Western governments are increasingly urged to adopt more robust mechanisms to monitor and counter Russian influence within democratic institutions. Proposed measures include enhanced transparency of party financing, scrutiny of lawmakers’ contacts with Russian-linked structures and strengthened sanctions against foreign influence networks. Public communication is also seen as essential to ensure that voters understand the implications of pro-Kremlin voting patterns.
Only a coordinated response, analysts argue, can mitigate the effectiveness of Moscow’s political operations and protect the integrity of Europe’s decision-making processes.
