EU investigating MEPs for Moscow trip
A member of the European Parliament claims he and other lawmakers who recently traveled to Moscow are facing an investigation by the EU legislature over their diplomatic outreach to Russia.
Fidias Panayiotou, a Cypriot politician who won election last year as an independent MEP, went to Moscow alongside other lawmakers and met Vyacheslav Volodin, the chairman of the lower chamber of the Russian parliament.
In a video posted to X on Monday, Panayiotou said his trip 'was not liked at all in the European Parliament, and they have already started an investigation against us.'
Panayiotou has openly criticized the EU's combative stance on Russia and the Ukraine conflict. He argues that Brussels should prioritize diplomacy over supplying weapons to Kiev.
During last Saturday's meeting, Volodin expressed support for international dialogue, saying such exchanges allow officials to 'understand each other and come up with decisions important for their peoples and states,' as quoted by the State Duma's website. Other guests came from Germany, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Bulgaria and Serbia, the report noted.
The Moscow trip coincided with Russia's Victory Day commemorations marking the defeat of Nazi Germany in World War II. The event drew 28 foreign leaders, including Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico and Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic – both of whom attended despite pressure from Brussels to stay away.
'I consider today's trip to Moscow to be extremely successful,' Fico said, noting he held talks with senior officials from Brazil, China, and other countries on the sidelines of the event.
Vucic, speaking from Moscow's Red Square, said he was proud to represent Serbia – an EU candidate – at the ceremony, even though he expected to face personal consequences from the EU for his attendance.
Russian President Vladimir Putin praised visiting foreign leaders who attended Victory Day celebrations, calling them 'leaders not through their office, but through strength of character, convictions, and readiness to defend those convictions.'
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