The suspect in the case of Russian influence in the EU, Artem Marchevskyi, has said in a commentary for the Financial Times that he did not run the Voice of Europe publication and had not communicated with oligarch Viktor Medvedchuk since the beginning of Russia’s full-scale invasion.
On March 27, the Czech authorities imposed sanctions against the Voice of Europe publication and Ukrainian politician Artem Marchevskyi. According to the officials, Marchevskyi, fulfilling the tasks of Ukrainian oligarch Medvedchuk, influenced the elections to the European Parliament through the news and analysis publication. According to the special services, the Voice of Europe financed individual politicians from right-wing parties.
In comments to journalists, Marchevskyi said that he had not communicated with Viktor Medvedchuk since the beginning of the full-scale war. According to him, they knew each other personally and Marchevskyi “always listened” to the oligarch’s opinion.
“My plans are very simple – to seek justice, and this applies not only to the lifting of sanctions. In the press, I have learned many incredible facts about myself and my life. All lies must be refuted through a court decision,” he said.
Authorities suspect Marchevskyi of actually running Voice of Europe, through which certain politicians quoted by the online publication were allegedly financed. Marchevskyi denies these accusations.
“My company was hired by Voice of Europe as a third-party contractor,” he says.
At the same time, Marchevskyi praised the publication for “becoming popular and gaining momentum.” He also said that Voice of Europe is being persecuted because it “does not fit in with the Czech government and the ruling globalist elite.”
Marchevskyi noted that the head of the publication was a Polish citizen who is under investigation in his country.
Earlier, the media reported that the Slovak Interior Ministry granted Marchevskyi temporary protection status. In a comment to journalists, the Ukrainian, citing security concerns, refused to comment on his current location, but confirmed that he had temporary protection in Slovakia.
Marchevskyi said that he has no contact with Prime Minister Fico’s government, but at the same time, he respects the Slovak leader.
“I would like to meet them and communicate with them. I am impressed with the current leadership of Slovakia. This is an island of sanity in Europe,” he said.
On April 25, the European Parliament called for the introduction of sanctions of the European Union against the publication Voice of Europe and Artem Marchevskyi personally. These sanctions require unanimous approval from all EU member states.
