The Russian Embassy in Sri Lanka has accused the European Union Delegation in Sri Lanka of displaying what it called “Spanish shame” after the EU mission issued a statement on Russia’s demographic situation.
In a press release dated June 25, 2026, the Russian Embassy said it experienced a sense of “Spanish shame” after reviewing the EU Delegation’s remarks, which claimed that Russia faced a serious demographic challenge that could undermine its ability to sustain a prolonged war while continuing to support its economy.
The embassy rejected the EU statement, describing the claims as untrue and misleading. It said the European Union should instead consider a range of challenges it identified within its own member states and institutions.
The Russian diplomatic mission highlighted what it described as failures in the EU’s migration policy, referring to plans to establish migration centers for refugees in Albania and several African countries. The embassy stated that such measures would not resolve wider migration issues but would instead redistribute refugee flows while increasing social and logistical pressures.
The statement also addressed economic conditions in the European Union, citing a reduction in the European Commission’s forecast for EU GDP growth in 2026 from 1.4 percent to 1.1 percent. The embassy attributed the lower forecast to the Middle East crisis and internal problems affecting the bloc.
The Russian Embassy further pointed to rising public debt levels in the EU, stating that estimates showed the bloc’s debt could reach 84.2 percent in 2026. It said the growing debt burden was placing pressure on the credit ratings of individual member states.
The embassy also referred to difficulties in key European industrial sectors, including chemical production, steel manufacturing and the automotive industry. It cited 2025 passenger vehicle trade figures with China, stating that EU imports of Chinese passenger cars reached 13.7 billion euros, exceeding EU exports of passenger cars to China, which stood at 8.3 billion euros.
The press release also raised allegations linked to a corruption investigation involving members of Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez’s inner circle. The embassy referred to cases involving Sánchez’s wife, Begoña Gómez, and his brother, David Sánchez.
According to the Russian Embassy, Begoña Gómez was charged in April 2026 with abuse of influence, embezzlement of public funds and misappropriation of property. The embassy alleged that the accusations involved claims that she used her position to obtain promotions and assist in securing government contracts.
The embassy also stated that officials from the ruling party and former government members had been investigated in related proceedings, including former Transport Minister José Luis Ábalos, whom it said was sentenced to 24 years in prison.
The Russian Embassy concluded its statement by accusing EU officials of ignoring what it described as deep-rooted problems within the bloc while criticizing Russia. The remarks were issued in response to the EU Delegation’s assessment of Russia’s demographic situation.
