The non-affiliated MEP Ždanoka was already known as an open supporter of Russia. She dedicated much of her career to what she claimed was the persecution of the Russian-speaking minority in the Baltic states. Following Russia’s annexation of Crimea, she traveled to the region to observe the referendum, which was not recognized by most countries. In 2016, she traveled to Syria to meet with Bashar al-Assad, who was already under EU sanctions at the time.