MEPs Call for Russian Houses to Be Shut Down Across the EU

Seventy-one Members of the European Parliament have called on EU leadership to close Russian Houses across the bloc. The initiative was spearheaded by MEP Rasa Jukneviciene. The MEPs sent an appeal to European Council President António Costa, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas, lrt.lt reports. The document states that Russian Houses continue to operate in 15 EU member states, including Belgium, Germany, France, Austria and Spain. The MEPs described the centers as instruments of “hybrid influence” and “coordinators of foreign information manipulation operations”. The European Parliament emphasized that Rossotrudnichestvo, the parent organization overseeing the centers, is under EU sanctions. However, the formal authority to close its branches remains with national governments.