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Angola Charges Two Russians With Election Interference, Terrorism in Major Spy Case
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Angolan authorities are preparing to put two Russian nationals on trial over allegations of organizing anti-government protests, running a disinformation campaign, and attempting to interfere in upcoming presidential elections, according to a report by the BBC on March 24.
Political consultant Igor Ratchin and translator Lev Lakshatanov face charges under 11 criminal counts, including terrorism, espionage, and influence peddling.
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Investigators allege the two operated on behalf of a network known as “African Political Science,” which authorities say emerged from the remnants of the disbanded Wagner Group .
Prosecutors argue the operation was aimed at reshaping Angola’s political direction, as the country has gradually distanced itself from Moscow’s sphere of influence in recent years.
Angola Charges Russian Nationals Over Terrorism, Espionage& Unrest
— Clash Report (@clashreport) March 24, 2026
Lev Lakshtanov & Igor Ratchin are accused of espionage & election tamper over alleged 2024-2025 disinformation campaign authorities link to Africa Politology, a network seen as successor to Wagner.…
The defense has denied any links to Wagner or Russian state structures. Lawyers claim the men traveled to Luanda solely to establish a cultural center known as the “Russian House,” arguing that the case is based on assumptions rather than verifiable evidence.
According to prosecutors, the first group of Russian operatives arrived in Angola in 2024 under the cover of cultural activities. Among them was Maxim Shugaley, a political strategist reportedly linked to Yevgeny Prigozhin and sanctioned by the European Union for involvement in disinformation campaigns in Africa.
The indictment alleges that between 2024 and 2025, the accused paid more than $24,000 to local journalists and analysts to distribute pro-Russian narratives. These efforts were intended to discredit the foreign policy of President João Lourenço and weaken trust in Angola’s Western partners.
Investigators cited social media posts and local publications that used the war in Ukraine to spread alarmist messaging, including claims that Angola risked being drawn into the conflict. Some content also criticized major infrastructure and logistics projects backed by Western countries.
Two Angolan nationals—a sports journalist and a political activist—are also expected to stand trial. Prosecutors say they were recruited to gather intelligence on the country’s political landscape and establish contacts with opposition figures who could challenge the current government.
The case also includes allegations that the Russian nationals held meetings with senior politicians from both the ruling MPLA party and the opposition UNITA. Prosecutors claim they offered potential presidential candidates financial support of up to $15 million, along with strategic advisory services.
Another set of charges relates to mass protests in July last year, during which at least 29 people were killed. Prosecutors allege the defendants were directly involved in coordinating the unrest, citing notes and photographs found on their mobile devices as evidence.
Earlier, another African nation, Kenya, agreed that Kenyan citizens will no longer be eligible to enlist in the Russian army for the war against Ukraine, after reports that large numbers of Kenyans had been recruited to fight.
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