VDD evaluates cases related to the funding / day of the Russian Foundation subordinate to the EU sanctions

The VDD pointed out that this fund under the authority of the Russian Foreign Ministry has been one of the tools used by the Kremlin for many years to promote the interests of Russia and to enhance the influence abroad. According to the information available to the VDD, Pravfond, like other so -called « compatriots » support funds, is used as a cover for the implementation of activities in the interests of Russian special services.

For example, the Fund has been using Latvia and other NATO countries purposefully discrediting propaganda and misinformation projects outside Russia, including Latvia.

Investigating the activities of the Pravfond -funded information resource « Imhoclub.lv », the VDD found out that Pravfond’s representatives of Imhoclub.lv have provided accurate indications in exchange for funding on the content of the « Imhoclub.lv » site.

According to the information available to the VDD, Pravfond staff, as independent experts and Russian rights advocates, are operating on Russian special services officers.

The Russian Legal Aid Fund for « compatriots » abroad has continued to finance people and organizations throughout the EU, even after sanctions were imposed in mid -2023, the OCCRP International Research Journalism Association recently reported.

In the investigation of research journalists, « dear compatriots » also revealed that it had paid for legal services to people accused of espionage and cooperated with intelligence agents in Lithuania, widely trying to discredit the case against former Soviet officers. The Fund has also funded pro -Russian propaganda in different European countries, especially in the Baltic States, and has helped to promote the interests of the Kremlin’s foreign policy, revealed by journalists.

In June 2023, the EU imposed sanctions on the Pravfond and its executive director Alexander Udalcov, thereby theoretically, significantly making the fund’s cash flow to Europe.

However, tens of thousands of Pravfond’s internal emails received by the Danish public broadcaster DR and shared the OCCRP and more than two dozen media partners in the project « Dear compatriots » shows that the Foundation has been able to continue its work across Europe relatively easy.

Within two years since then sanctions have been imposed, Pravfond has sent funds to beneficiaries in at least 11 EU Member States, including potential cybercriminals and Russians arrested for migrant smuggling, using a wide variety of tactics, ranging from money to third party bank accounts to simple people.

The draft annual report on the Fund, which was sent to the Russian Foreign Ministry in March 2024, states that, despite some « practical work difficulties » caused by the EU sanctions, « so far has been resolved by issues on a case -by -case basis.

Some people who needed help turned directly to « Pravfond ». Others were sent by third parties to the Russian Embassy or on behalf of them. However, everyone completed the formal application form, which detailed their needs and requested a specific amount of assistance, usually to cover legal expenses.

Many of these applications and the following contracts were found among the 50,000 emails obtained by journalists in the project « Dear compatriots », allowing them to create a fuller idea of ​​how the organization worked and sent money to their recipients.

Pravfond often asked for its « circumvention » to receive money in Europe, directly from the people who applied for funding.

In Latvia, the money was received by Imhoclub, which is related to the distribution of propaganda and misinformation in order to help Russia strengthen the impact in Latvia.

In November 2018, Yuri Alexeyev and Pyotr Pogorodnyy were detained in Latvia, and they were later charged with activities against Latvia’s sovereignty.

The criminal case of pro -Kremlin activist Alexeyev and two non -citizens Dmitry Sustretov and Pogorodnyy for actions against Latvia’s sovereignty are planned to continue to see the Kurzeme District Court on September 9.

The accusations are related to the operation of the website « IMHOCLUB.LV ». The criminal proceedings were referred to the court on 31 January 2023.

The accused participates in the hearing remotely. Alexeyev has fallen to Belarus.