Uncovering Russia's Alleged Influence Operation in Angola

Tue Mar 24 2026 15:49:36 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)

Two Russians are on trial in Angola for allegedly inciting anti-government protests and disseminating disinformation as part of an operation linked to a shadowy network of operatives.

Political consultant Igor Ratchin and translator Lev Lakshtanov are facing multiple charges in Angola, including terrorism and espionage. The indictment alleges they attempted to sway Angolan politics through disinformation campaigns and support for opposition parties amidst growing tensions following protests in the country. Their trial raises questions about foreign interference and the influence of Russian operatives in Angolan politics.

Two Russians are due to go on trial in Angola accused of stirring up anti-government protests, conducting a campaign of disinformation, and attempting to interfere in next year's presidential election.

Arrested last August, political consultant Igor Ratchin and translator Lev Lakshtanov are facing 11 charges, including terrorism, espionage, and influence peddling.

The BBC has obtained a copy of the indictment that includes charges relating to an alleged operation aimed at changing the political course of Angola. The Russians' lawyers challenge the indictment on the grounds that it lacks concrete and objective facts.

According to the prosecution, the Russians acted on behalf of Africa Politology, a shadowy network of operatives and intelligence officers in Africa that emerged from the now-defunct Wagner Group, whose founder Yevgeny Prigozhin died in 2023 in a plane crash.

Political operatives linked to Wagner have been active across Africa for more than a decade, especially in Central African Republic, Mali, and Madagascar. The Russians' defence claims they are not connected to Africa Politology or the Wagner Group, and were instead cooperating to create a cultural Russian House in Luanda.

Angola is a significant player in Africa's oil and diamond markets, and while its historical ties to Russia date back to the Cold War, the country has been gradually shifting away from Moscow's influence.

The prosecution alleges that the arrested Russians hired two Angolan nationals, journalist Amor Carlos Tomé and political activist Francisco Oliveira, to help orchestrate their campaign, which included gathering intelligence on candidates for the upcoming election.

This case is unfolding against a backdrop of civil unrest in Angola, where recent protests have led to numerous deaths and arrests. Activists assert that the protests were driven by local grievances rather than foreign interference.

Insider accounts suggest that Angolan authorities may be using these Russian operatives as scapegoats for broader discontent within the country.