Russian Influence Operation Exposed in Angola: Two Nationals Convicted

A court in Luanda, Angola, 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 public unrest ahead of Angola's next presidential election. Prosecutors claimed the defendants paid local journalists over $24,000 to produce pro-Russian and anti-government content and helped organize deadly 2025 protests, though activists argue the unrest was domestically driven. The trial faced controversy over evidence quality, procedural irregularities (prosecutor refusing to read the indictment), and the court's refusal to call key political witnesses. Two Angolan nationals were also tried: one received a suspended sentence, the other was acquitted, with prosecutors appealing. The verdict highlights growing resistance to Russian political networks in Africa but raises questions about due process and the strength of evidence.