Belgium Deports 'Dozens of Russian Spies' in Recent Months - Prime Minister De Croo

In recent months, Belgium has expelled dozens of so-called "Russian diplomats" who were clearly spies.

This was stated by Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Kroo, according to The Brussels Times.

When asked by the French-language RTL channel whether Belgium should fear Russia's attempts to destabilise its democracy, De Kroo said that these attempts had already taken place.

"In recent months, Belgium has deported dozens of so-called Russian diplomats from the country," he said. "Were they spies? Obviously, yes."

According to De Croo, Russia is also attacking Belgium in other ways. 

"If we take a stance against Russia, we know that very often our websites are targeted by cyberattacks in the hours that follow."

Russia has also conducted numerous disinformation campaigns in Belgium. "For example, when the hunt for Jurgen Konings [a former career soldier who threatened virologists and the Belgian government during the Covid-19 pandemic in 2021] was underway, our security services suspected organised disinformation campaigns at sensitive times."

According to a survey conducted by De Tijd and its European partners in April 2023, nowhere else in Europe does Russia have as much satellite communications equipment used to transmit sensitive information back to Russia as it does in its embassy buildings in Belgium.

There are no fewer than 17 satellite dishes on the roof of the embassy building in Ukkle, as well as several other antennas and communications equipment that can be used for both communications and espionage.

De Kroo also focused on the financing of Belgian aid to Ukraine. 

"Putin pays for it. In fact, Belgium has found a sensible solution: Russia has frozen assets worth hundreds of billions in Belgium, and the aid to Ukraine is paid for from taxes on this money. So the aid is not funded by Belgian taxpayers."

As The Gaze previously reported, Switzerland harbours one fifth of all Russian spies in Europe. According to a senior official of the Swiss Federal Intelligence Service (NDB), who told members of the National Council's Foreign Affairs Commission, there are currently about 80 Russian agents in Switzerland.