Europe sanctions former Russian spy exposed by Reuters

By Mari Saito

BERLIN (Reuters) - The European Union has imposed sanctions on a former Russian spy whose activities promoting the Kremlin's agenda inside Germany were revealed in a Reuters investigation.

In the investigation published in 2023, Reuters revealed that Berlin-based businessman Oleg Eremenko was a former officer in Russia's GRU military intelligence agency who had established ties with German far-left movements and was lobbying for Berlin to end its isolation of Vladimir Putin's Russia.

The EU, in a decision published this week including Eremenko on its sanctions blacklist, described him as a former GRU officer. It said he was acting as an envoy of the Russian state security apparatus who was "cultivating links to and supporting anti-democratic organisations within Germany".

It added that Eremenko was therefore supporting Russian policies that sought to undermine democracy, the rule of law and the constitutional order in Germany. The decision was adopted on Dec. 16, the document showed.

The sanctions mean any assets Eremenko has inside the EU will be frozen, and he will be barred from entering any of the bloc's member countries.

Reuters on Thursday called Eremenko on mobile phone numbers listed for him in Germany and Russia, but he did not pick up. He also did not respond to a message via WhatsApp seeking his comment.

Officials across Europe have alleged the Russian state is orchestrating a campaign to clandestinely influence public opinion and soften European governments' support for Ukraine in its war with Russia.

Moscow has accused European leaders of inventing this Russian influence campaign to mask their own dwindling popularity.

The Reuters 2023 investigation also identified a Germany-based couple with ties to the Russian state who were campaigning for Berlin to stop supporting Kyiv. Last month, the couple, Elena Kolbasnikova and Max Schlund, said the German authorities had removed their right to reside in the country.

(Writing by Christian Lowe; Editing by Alex Richardson)