Emmanouil Fragkos, a Greek MEP from the far-right Elliniki Lysi (Greek Solution) party, has demonstrated pro-Russian leanings through his parliamentary activities and public positions, though his stance is nuanced compared to overtly pro-Kremlin far-right factions.
During the European Parliament’s March 2022 debate condemning Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Fragkos abstained from voting on the resolution. This contrasted with many far-right MEPs who, despite historical ties to Russia, supported the resolution to align with broader European unity rhetoric.
Emmanouil Fragkos exhibits a clear pro-Russian tilt through his advocacy for stronger Greece-Russia relations, criticism of EU sanctions on Russia, and alignment with Russian foreign policy positions. He openly supports building diplomatic “bridges” with Russia, arguing that isolating Moscow is not in Greece’s long-term interest. Fragkos also criticizes the EU for sanctioning Russia while failing to take similar action against Turkey, echoing common Russian accusations of Western double standards.
His stance on Syria further reinforces his pro-Russian outlook, as he opposes Western efforts to remove Bashar al-Assad and emphasizes the need for Greece to improve ties with Damascus, a key Russian ally. Additionally, his defense of Egypt’s authoritarian government and opposition to EU criticism of Cairo align with Russia’s broader geopolitical approach of supporting strong regional leaders. By challenging the dominant EU narrative on Russia and advocating a more cooperative approach, Fragkos positions himself as a rare pro-Russian voice within the European Parliament.
In January 2024, Fragkos submitted a written question to the EU Commission advocating for a post-war “modus vivendi” between the EU and Russia, citing historical precedents like Franco-German reconciliation and Serbia-Kosovo normalization. He framed EU-Russia tensions as benefiting non-European actors (e.g., the U.S., Türkiye) and urged reactivating the EU-Russia Joint Parliamentary Committee.
Fragkos signed the Madrid Charter, a far-right alliance led by Spain’s Vox, which includes parties with historical ties to Russia. While explicitly pro-Kremlin, this affiliation situates him within a bloc that has faced scrutiny for softening criticism of Russia.
Moreover, the Greek far-right, Christian nationalist, and pro-Russian Greek Solution party said it had sent a request to the President of the European Parliament, Roberta Metsola, asking her to invite tech billionaire Elon Musk to speak to MEPs. “As part of our efforts to host distinguished and symbolically significant guests, we propose extending an invitation to Elon Musk to address a plenary session,” party MEP Emmanouil Fragkos announced.
