US to investigate alleged Russian clandestine funding of European parties

The US intelligence agencies will conduct a major investigation to reveal Russian clandestine funding of European parties, The Telegraph reports.

According to the newspaper, the US Director of National Intelligence, James Clapper, has been instructed by the US Congress to conduct a major review into Russian clandestine funding of European parties over the last decade and will examine whether Russian security services are funding parties and charities with the intent of 'undermining political cohesion', fostering agitation against the missile defense program and undermining attempts to find alternatives to Russian energy.

This step reflects growing fears that a new cold war may unfold in Europe and mounting concerns over Moscow’s determination to exploit European disunity in order to undermine NATO.

In the first place it will include far-right groups including Jobbik in Hungary, Golden Dawn in Greece, the Northern League in Italy and France’s Front National. Austrian MPs who visited Crimea to endorse its annexation also can be 'Russian agents', according to the newspaper.