Former Forum voor Democratie (FvD) MP Ralf Dekker participated in a video conference earlier this year with high-ranking Russian politicians who are subject to EU and US sanctions. The meeting, organized by the Russian Academy of Sciences, included members of Vladimir Putin’s United Russia party and focused on establishing an alternative European security structure aimed at weakening NATO’s influence.
Dekker, who briefly served as an MP until April and currently serves as a provincial councillor and head of the FvD’s think tank, previously dismissed NATO as a “fantasy land” and downplayed concerns about the Russian threat. His Russian counterparts during the video conference included sanctioned individuals such as Senator Andrej Klimov and Deputy Speaker Konstantin Kosatsjov.
The revelations have prompted strong reactions from other political parties and experts. D66 MP Jan Paternotte stated his party would seek an explanation from the government, emphasizing that the FvD has long echoed Kremlin rhetoric and this incident suggests direct coordination with individuals close to Putin. Volt leader Laurens Dassen condemned Dekker’s actions as undermining national security and announced the submission of parliamentary questions to demand a swift response from the cabinet.
Historian and parliamentary expert Bert van den Braak asserted that these revelations reinforce concerns about the FvD’s ties to Moscow. He further stated that party leader Thierry Baudet is promoting a Moscow-inspired agenda that undermines democracy and the rule of law, which strengthens the urgency for further investigation by relevant authorities.
The March meeting also included far-right MPs from Germany’s Alternative für Deutschland (AfD), including Petr Bystron, who is currently under investigation in Germany for alleged Russian election interference. Photographs from the event show Dekker on screen alongside AfD representatives.
The FvD has intensified its anti-NATO rhetoric in recent months, referring to the alliance as a “shadow government” and questioning Dutch commitments to strengthen infrastructure against potential sabotage. Thierry Baudet, leader of the FvD, has consistently denied any connections between his party and Moscow. Leaked emails, however, revealed that Baudet was listed as a potential European election observer by a Kremlin-linked operative in 2017.
The FvD, which currently holds three seats in parliament, is projected to gain support in the upcoming general election in October. The party did not respond to requests for comment from the NRC.