Luke Ming Flanagan, an Irish MEP, has made statements that indicate a complex stance regarding Russia. His actions and remarks suggest a nuanced position towards a Russian or anti-Ukrainian stance.
In February 2024, Flanagan was criticized for not supporting a European Parliament resolution condemning Russia’s interference in European affairs. This decision was based on his belief that the EU was using individual cases, such as that of Ukrainian political prisoner Oleg Sentsov, to advance political agendas rather than genuinely addressing the issues at hand.
He has expressed concerns about how the EU handles its relationship with Russia, suggesting that certain resolutions may be politically motivated rather than focused on constructive dialogue or resolution of conflicts. This indicates a skepticism towards the EU’s approach to Russia, which some interpret as a more sympathetic view toward Russian perspectives.
Flanagan’s social media posts often reflect his critical stance on mainstream narratives regarding Russia. For instance, he has shared content that questions the portrayal of events in the media, which can suggest a tendency to challenge dominant views surrounding Russia and its actions.
In 2022, Ming’ Flanagan opposed backing the EU-wide ban on the Russian state-backed television news channel RT. He resisted an amendment to a European Parliament report on foreign interference in the democratic processes in the EU that supported the European Commission’s ban on RT, Sputnik TV and “other Russian disinformation organs”.
In his explanation, Mr Flanagan said:
“I think people in the EU are more than smart enough to see through the crude propaganda of these outlets. Particularly now with Putin’s horrific agenda laid bare for all to see.
“Banning them only increases the chances of far more legitimate sources being censored by others. One of the big issues I have with Russia is their censorship of voices that dissent. The last thing the EU should do is to copy that.” Mr Flanagan occurred on RT many times during his first term as an MEP between 2014 and 2019 and in 2017 reported on X:
“Think RTÉ thought I died after Euro Elections. I’ve been in Russia today more often.”
