Belgian politicians and top directors from the financial sector have been the target of an intimidation campaign orchestrated by Russian intelligence services, aimed at convincing Belgium to block the use of 185 billion euros from frozen Russian assets to support Ukraine, according to European intelligence agencies.
Security sources told The Guardian that key figures in the leadership of Euroclear, the securities depository that manages most of the blocked Russian assets, as well as political leaders of the Belgian state, were deliberately targeted.
EU leaders, who will meet in Brussels on Thursday, are debating whether to approve urgent loans for Ukraine, guaranteed with assets of the Central Bank of Russia. The funds are considered essential for Kiev to be able to sustain its war effort until 2026-2027.
European officials believe that behind this campaign could be the Russian military intelligence service, GRU, although there are discussions about the real level of the threat.
Details, HERE
