Alexandra Sasha, a former candidate for the European Parliament representing the Liberal Party (Venstre), has announced her withdrawal from the candidacy following allegations of potential pro-Russian ties. In a recent appearance on DR’s Deadline, a Danish news program, she explained that her involvement with the youth organization of the European Russian Forum, which has been labeled as pro-Russian, was well-known to both her party and her constituents.

“There has been an attempt to create a scandalous narrative around something that has always been public knowledge. I have always been open about my participation in these conferences,” Sasha stated during the interview.

However, her campaign took a dramatic turn shortly before the European Parliament elections in May, after B.T., a Danish media outlet, published a series of critical articles questioning her activities and connections. Under media pressure, Sasha chose to withdraw, a move she later described as a result of a smear campaign.

According to senior researcher Flemming Splidsboel from the Danish Institute for International Studies (Danish Institut for Internationale Studier), the European Russian Forum is explicitly pro-Russian and supports Russian President Vladimir Putin’s regime, which invaded Ukraine in February 2022.

Sasha contends that her participation stems from a desire to understand the conflict through a critical lens. She emphasizes that her involvement in the forum does not imply that she agrees with the researcher’s characterization of its pro-Russian nature; rather, she believes it serves a purpose in understanding the East-West conflict.

“The discussions in these forums revolve around exchanging perspectives between East and West. Listening to what the opposing side thinks is an important part of understanding the conflict,” she noted.

Sasha, who has been elected to public office twice, pointed out that the meetings took place in the European Parliament and were funded by it, underscoring the legitimacy and significance of these dialogues.

The Liberal Party (Venstre) has since announced that they will not seek a temporary replacement for Linea Søgaard-Lidell, who is going on maternity leave, despite Sasha being the first alternate candidate. This decision has been made in light of the controversy surrounding Sasha.