Czech intelligence services accuse Russia of poaching local figures

The director of the Czech Information Security Service (BIS), Michal Koudelka, said on Monday, as quoted by Euractiv, that Russian agents bribed Czech public figures to spread propaganda.

According to the Euractiv portal, from the Brussels-based Euractiv Foundation, Koudelka said on Monday that pro-Russian structures also tried to establish direct contact with one of the organizers of anti-government demonstrations that took place in the fall of 2022 in Prague.

“In the latest case, BIS discovered that one of the Russian agents in the Czech Republic organized the dissemination of narratives supporting the interests of the Russian Federation regarding the war in Ukraine, in exchange for a bribe of several thousand euros. They were also used by public figures,” Koudelka told the Czech Parliament, as quoted by Euractiv.

According to the same portal, run by Frenchman Christophe Leclerc, BIS investigated Russian “interference” in the Czech media.

“Even before the war in Ukraine, the activities of a pro-Russian activist were exposed who used Czech journalists, financed several trips abroad and wanted journalists to create materials in support of Russia,” Koudelka said.

Despite Russia’s alleged direct involvement, Koudelka said that “Russian narratives and disinformation are in the minority,” adding that most false information is created in the Czech Republic by “local individuals.”

According to the Radio Prague portal, Koudelka refused to say who exactly was involved in this case.

Euractiv also does not specify who these individuals are or whether legal action has been taken against alleged Russian agents and alleged Czech citizens lured by Moscow.