Russian intelligence used a Serbian agent to infiltrate EU institutions and spread pro-Kremlin theories about its invasion of Ukraine, according to a Western intelligence report, Politico reported.
Already in October 2023, Serbian citizen Novica Antic - an active "agent of influence" who knowingly worked closely with the Russian security agency, according to the documents, held meetings with European officials in Brussels, and in particular with members of the European parliament.
Among these MEPs are the German deputy from the group of the Greens Viola von Kramon-Taubadel (EP rapporteur for Kosovo), the Italian deputy from the group of Socialists and Democrats Alessandra Moretti and Vladimir Bilcik (EP rapporteur for Serbia), a Slovak from the group of the European People's Party . There is nothing in the intelligence brief to suggest that Moretti, Bilczyk and von Kramon-Taubadel knew of Novica Antich's ties to the FSB when they met her.
Moretti, Bilczyk and von Kramon-Taubadel did not respond to Politico's request for comment.
Antic, president of the Serbian Military Trade Union, also met with representatives of the EUROMIL and EPSU trade unions, which respectively represent the military and public service employees in the European Union.
When asked about the meeting with Antic, an EPSU official replied: "A delegation of her union was in Brussels in October where she met with several MEPs and all the meetings were transparent. The only topic was related to trade union rights".
According to the Western intelligence brief, Antich is an active "agent of influence" for Russia's Federal Security Service, better known as the FSB.
Antich worked closely with an FSB operative named Vyacheslav Kalinin, a Russian citizen and editor-in-chief of Veteran News, a website specializing in news about veterans of the armed forces. The website's "About Us" section says the outlet is an "information partner" of the FSB and the Russian Defense Ministry, among other units of the Russian security services.
While the intelligence brief singles out Antich's actions in particular, it notes that Kalinin recruited other people as well, without specifying how many or within which countries.
Russia is using Serbia as a staging ground for influence operations aimed at weakening pro-European and pro-NATO sentiment in the country, as well as in the European Union, which has been a staunch supporter of Ukraine since Russia's full-scale invasion two years ago. Antic used his role as head of the Serbian Military Syndicate to criticize Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic and senior members of the country's armed forces.
"They took every opportunity to promote Russian propaganda related to the war in Ukraine," the report said, referring to meetings in Serbia and EU countries.
The news that Antic has been holding meetings in the European Parliament highlights the body's vulnerability to foreign-backed influence operations. Earlier this month, Politico revealed that spyware was found on the cellphones of two members of the European Parliament, including former French Europe Minister Nathalie Loiseau, who chairs the body's defense subcommittee.
Kalinin invited Antich to Russia to meet with senior Russian military officials between 2019 and 2020. The pair initially focused on influencing Serbian civil society, but have since broadened their focus to include European trade unions and veterans' organizations , and in recent months also members of the European Parliament.
Antic, an outspoken critic of Serbia's armed forces who have fallen out of favor with the country's political leadership, is currently being held on unspecified charges, according to news website Balkan Insight.
In the past five years, Antich has been fired twice by the Serbian army. According to the media, she went on hunger strike to protest her detention. /BGNES
