Russian Influence Operation Exposed in Angola: Two Nationals Convicted

A court in Luanda convicted two Russian nationals, Igor Ratchin and Lev Lakshtanov, of terrorism, espionage, criminal association, and illegal currency retention, sentencing them to 11 and 8 years respectively. The case, linked to the Africa Politology network and former Wagner Group structures, involved alleged attempts to spread disinformation, cultivate political contacts, and influence unrest ahead of Angola's next presidential election. Prosecutors claimed the defendants paid local journalists over $24,000 for pro-Russian and anti-government content and helped organize deadly 2025 protests, though activists argue the protests were domestically driven. The trial faced controversy: the prosecutor refused to read the indictment aloud, the defense challenged evidence quality, and the court rejected calling key politicians as witnesses. Two Angolan nationals were also tried; one received a suspended sentence, the other was acquitted. The verdict may spark a longer legal and political dispute over Russian influence networks in Angola.