The home affairs ministry has started an investigation into the extent of foreign influence on the public debate in the Netherlands following a bribes-for-propaganda row that has shaken Dutch politics.

Home affairs minister De Jonge made the announcement in the wake of allegations by Czech intelligence service BIS on Wednesday that politicians from six countries, including the Netherlands, had been receiving large amounts of money from Russian-backed news site the Voice of Europe in exchange for putting forward pro-Russian views on Dutch support for Ukraine and the EU.

The BIS named no names but in the Netherlands Forum voor Democratie leader Thierry Baudet and FvD MEP Marcel de Graaff are being linked to efforts to influence decision-making in favour of Russia. Both politicians have denied the allegations.

The Dutch link with the website goes further than allegedly corrupt politicians. As early as 2018 De Groene journalist Coen van de Ven, who was writing about Russian influence on Western politics at the time, revealed the site had been founded by three Dutch businessmen.

“You could tell from interviews they supported the ideology but it was primarily a business proposition. They thought they could make money from a radically rightwing European website,” Van de Ven told broadcaster NOS.

Leader of the extreme right-wing party PVV, which gained a majority in the Dutch elections,  was a welcome guest at the Voice of Europe at the time, Van de Ven said. Reluctant to give interviews to Dutch journalists he did exclusive interviews with the Voice of Europe and praised their “unique and valuable work”.

The site was sold in 2019 to a Czech media company which then sold it to Ukrainian oligarch and friend of Vladimir Putin, Viktor Medvedchuk. It continued its interviews with right-wing politicians, including Flip Dewinter of Vlaams Belang, Maximilian Krah of Alternative für Deutschland and PvD leader Thierry Baudet.

Wilders has since said he has no financial ties at all with Russia and that the payment of Dutch politicians by the site is “unacceptable”. He was also among the first to call for clarification from the cabinet.

Home affairs minsiter De Jonge confirmed that the allegations made by BIS had been communicated to the Dutch intelligence services.

“Our service have been warning against foreign intervention, from Russia and other countries,” Dutch intelligence service AIVD and home affairs spokeswoman Petra Huijer told the Parool. “It is a big risk to western democracies and the AIVD is doing its utmost to protect them”, she said.

The AIVD is not revealing any of the methods it is using to combat foreign intervention but is currently involved in the investigation announced by Hugo de Jonge which is expected to be completed before the summer break. A debate about the issue has been scheduled for Tuesday.