Latvian historian Valery Engel accused of receiving secret funding from sanctioned Russian propaganda body Pravfond

Leaked emails reveal EU-based historian Valery Engel received funding from sanctioned Russian group Pravfond to present pro-Moscow reports at OSCE conferences.

By: AXL Media

Published: Mar 3, 2026, 2:47 PM EST

Source: The information in this article was sourced from Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project

Funding and Sanctions Violations

Valery Engel, a Russian historian residing in the European Union, is accused of using funds from the sanctioned Russian organization Pravfond to finance his research and attendance at international security conferences. Pravfond, which claims to provide legal aid to Russian "compatriots," was sanctioned by the EU in June 2023 for spreading propaganda and creating instability in neighboring countries. Leaked documents indicate that Engel made at least two grant applications after these sanctions were in place, including a September 2023 request for travel and presentation expenses for an event in Warsaw.

Influence at International Forums

The investigation highlights how Engel utilized the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) platforms to advance Kremlin narratives. In a 2022 grant application, Engel explicitly stated his goal was to "position the Russian Federation favorably on issues of human rights." While his public presentations appeared broad, private correspondence revealed an agenda intended to strengthen the "authority of the Russian Federation in the international arena." The OSCE has stated that it does not vet the funding sources of conference participants, maintaining a policy of openness.

Discrepancies in Reporting and Titles

Documents show a strategic use of language to mask the pro-Kremlin nature of Engel's work for Western audiences. A 2024 application for a report titled "Russophobia in Europe" in Russian was proposed to have a more neutral English title: "The State and Minority Rights Violations in the Post-War Period." This dual-titling was reportedly designed to facilitate the involvement of foreign experts and ensure the reports could be cited in neutral international forums without immediately signaling their state-funded origin.