Aymeric Chauprade is a French politician. He was elected to the European Parliament from the National Front in the 2014 European Parliament election. Chauprade has publicly supported Russia in recent years and reportedly endorsed the country’s annexation of Crimea. In 2014, he said, “Russia has become the world’s hope against new totalitarianism.” Chauprade maintains strong relations with Russia and China.
Chauprade defends the multipolar political vision, including peaceful relations with Russia. Regarding Russian actions to influence the European Parliament, one of the most notable events has so far been the disclosure that the daughter of Russian President Vladimir Putin’s spokesman, Yelizaveta Peskova, became an intern of MEP Aymeric Chauprade.
EU lawmakers have presented security concerns after it was disclosed the daughter of President Vladimir Putin’s spokesperson is working at the institution.
Elizaveta Peskova is the daughter of Dmitry Peskov, a long-serving Kremlin spokesperson. She has been operating as an intern for a French right-wing lawmaker, Aymeric Chauprade, in the EU Parliament, the EU’s legislative body. Elizaveta Peskova, who has more than 85,000 followers on Instagram, reportedly began the job late in 2018, but it’s raised security concerns among some lawmakers in Brussels.
In emailed comments, Chauprade defended the appointment, saying there is no conflict of interest or security risk. “Before being the daughter of his father, Miss Peskova is herself. She is a young law student in France and is perfectly qualified for an internship in a European institution,” he stated via email.
Moreover, When in March 2014, Crimea voted to secede from Ukraine in a referendum hurriedly organized three weeks after the Russian occupation of the peninsula. Marine Le Pen stated that the poll “raised no questions” and that Crimea was “historically a part of Russia.” Her then foreign policy adviser MEP Aymeric Chauprade even traveled to Crimea during the referendum and declared that the vote was “legitimate.” However, not even Russia’s closest partners– Belarus and Kazakhstan – have recognized it as such.
