Several politicians are now expressing serious concern and demanding answers from the leader of Venstre (the Liberal Party), Troels Lund Poulsen, following revelations from 365Nyt about Venstre’s EU candidate, Alexandra Sasha’s connections to pro-Russian networks. These revelations led to Sasha resigning from politics on Thursday and have caused unrest among several politicians. The political spokesperson for the Liberal Alliance, Sólbjørg Jakobsen, has expressed deep concern that a government party has nominated a candidate with close ties to pro-Russian and Putin-friendly networks. “I don’t believe that this situation has arisen intentionally. But that is precisely what is worrying. What did they actually know? How has this process unfolded? I would like to hear from Troels Lund Poulsen and Venstre about what they knew about these connections that have come to light,” she said.
Moreover, Anders Vistisen, a member of the European Parliament for the Danish People’s Party and lead candidate for the EU elections, is also shaken by the situation. “It’s completely insane. It’s a disaster that Venstre has not conducted proper background checks on their candidates. deeply worrying,” Vistisen states. Vistisen highlights that this is not the first time Venstre has been in the spotlight for Russian connections. Another Venstre candidate, Ulla Tørnæs, has also been the center of similar revelations: “This scandal arises from the fact that there is already another candidate from Venstre whose husband has been exposed as having financial connections to Russia.”
Magnus Barsøe, the EU candidate for the Social Democrats, shares the concern. “There are indications that Putin’s tentacles are now entwining their way into Danish democracy. The things that have been unraveled are deeply, deeply worrying,” he says, adding that it is good that Alexandra Sasha has withdrawn from the election campaign and Danish politics. Alexandra Sasha has played a central role in the European Russian Forum, which according to Russia expert Flemming Splidsboel functions as a pro-Russian and Putin-friendly “influence forum.” She has represented and been a board member of the forum’s youth organization and has participated in several meetings organized by Tatjana Ždanoka, a Latvian member of the European Parliament who has previously been exposed as an agent for the Russian intelligence service FSB.
In addition, Sasha has met with Boris Titov, a close ally of President Vladimir Putin. According to The Anti-Corruption Foundation, Titov acts as Putin’s puppet and is involved in corruption related to Putin’s properties. Alexandra Sasha has also expressed in a pre-election test that the EU should not donate the necessary weapons to Ukraine. These revelations have led to intense demands for explanations from Venstre and Troels Lund Poulsen about what they knew about these connections.