Two Russians Handed Down Jail Terms for Terrorism and Spying in Angola
Prosecutors said the pair helped organize unrest and spread disinformation as part of a Russian-linked influence operation.
- On Tuesday, an Angolan court in Luanda convicted political consultant Igor Ratchin and translator Lev Lakshtanov of espionage and terrorism, sentencing them to 11 and eight years in prison respectively.
- Prosecutors alleged the defendants led Africa Politology, a political influence operation linked to the Wagner mercenary group, claiming they paid local experts more than $24,000 to incite deadly 2025 protests in Angola.
- Defense attorneys argued the defendants were establishing a cultural center and denied Wagner connections, while legal proceedings faced controversy when the prosecutor refused to read the indictment aloud and the court rejected defense witness requests.
- Two Angolans were also tried: sports journalist Amor Carlos Tomé received a two-year suspended sentence, while political activist Francisco Oliveira was acquitted, though prosecutors appealed immediately, leaving Tomé in custody pending appeal.
- The conviction underscores Russia's broader influence campaign across Africa, where Moscow capitalizes on anti-colonial sentiment. Ukraine's military intelligence reports Russia is expanding a network of 'Russian Houses' in at least eight nations to advance pro-Russian narratives.
14 Articles
14 Articles
Igor Ratchin and Lev Lakshtanov, arrested in August 2025, were found guilty of fuelling a social protest movement, conducting disinformation campaigns and interfering in the presidential election scheduled for 2027.
A court in Angola found Russian citizens Lev Lakshtanov and Igor Ratchin to blame terrorism, espionage and a coup d'état. Behind the court, the stench took 8 and 11 years of experience.
(Johannesburg=Yonhap News) Correspondent Na Hak-jin = Two Russians charged with terrorism and espionage in connection with anti-government protests in Angola, Africa, last year that killed 22 people...
Two Russian citizens, arrested in Angola following demonstrations that led to riots and robberies a year ago, were sentenced to 8 and 11 years in prison, respectively, especially for espionage and terrorism, reported several Angolan media.
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