Portuguese police raided a refugee assistance centre in Setubal, Lisbon on Tuesday (10 May) over claims that pro-Kremlin Russian guards had gathered personal data from dozens of Ukrainians fleeing Russian invasion.
In a statement, police stated that they had searched the support center, the municipal building, and the Yedinstvo Association of Migrants from Eastern Europe in an investigation into suspected data misuse and unauthorised access, they seized documents.
Newspaper Expresso reported that Igor Khashin, a Russian couple, and Yulia, his wife, were accused of having links to Moscow. They had photocopied refugee documents and interrogated them about their relatives in Ukraine. This scared many refugees.
Expresso stated that Portugal's security services had closely followed Khashin's activities following the 2014 annexation.
According to the Portuguese Communist Party (PCP), the municipality ruled that the man had "collaborated" in Setubal with the refugee center, where his Russian wife was also employed.
The PCP was criticized for not condemning Russia's invasion in Ukraine.
The couple are of dual nationality. Igor Khashin, the municipality's deputy mayor, said that he had worked with him and other local government agencies for many years.
Opposition parties called for the resignation Of Setubal Mayor Andre Martins. They claim that Martins was aware of the connections between the Khashins and their association with the Russian state.
Martins' office stated that it was never informed by any official of suspicious conduct or acts committed by the association. The association has been working with the municipality since 2005.
Ana Catarina Mendes, Minister of Parliamentary Affairs, said that the case should be investigated "to the very end" and that the government would not permit that people who arrive here...are not treated dignity and respect.
Since the invasion by Russia on 24 February, Portugal has received nearly 36,000 Ukrainian refugees.
Portugal's handling of sensitive data has been criticized before. Lisbon's mayor was penalized with 1.2 million euros earlier this year for sharing the personal data of Russian protesters to its embassy.
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