Spanish Defence Minister Maria Dolores de Cospedal said that Madrid believes Russian-based groups used online social media to heavily promote Catalonia’s independence referendum last month in an attempt to destabilize Spain, Reuters informs.
"What we know today is that much of this came from Russian territory," Spanish Defence Minister Maria Dolores de Cospedal said of Russian-based internet support.
"These are groups that, public and private, are trying to influence the situation and create instability in Europe,"she told reporters at a meeting of EU foreign and defense ministers in Brussels.
Asked if Madrid was certain of the accusations, Spanish Foreign Minister Alfonso Dastis, also at the meeting, said: "Yes, we have proof."