Two RT employees indicted for funding pro-Russian content operation in US
Attorney General Merrick Garland speaks during a meeting of the Justice Department's Election Threats Task Force on September 4, 2024 PHOTO:AP
Two Russian nationals, Kostiantyn Kalashnikov and Elena Afanasyeva, have been indicted in the Southern District of New York for allegedly conspiring to violate the Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA) and committing money laundering.
Both defendants are accused of covertly funding and directing a US-based content creation company, identified as US Company-1, to distribute nearly $10 million worth of RT-curated content in furtherance of Russian government interests.
According to the indictment, Kalashnikov and Afanasyeva, employees of the Russian state-controlled media outlet RT, funneled funds to US Company-1 using shell companies in Turkiye, the UAE, and Mauritius.
These funds were used to produce thousands of videos with pro-Russian messaging aimed at US audiences.
Since its public launch in late 2023, US Company-1 published around 2,000 videos across social media platforms, garnering millions of views without disclosing its Russian backing.
The content covered various topics, including US immigration and inflation, and was intended to deepen divisions in American society, according to US authorities.
The defendants allegedly used fake identities to manage the company’s operations and direct its content, particularly following sensitive events like terrorist attacks.
The indictment highlights how payments from RT were disguised as purchases for electronics to hide their true purpose.
The FBI is leading the investigation, and if convicted, the defendants face up to 25 years in prison for FARA violations and money laundering charges. Both Kalashnikov and Afanasyeva remain at large.