DOJ indictment accuses Russian national of turning Americans into tools of Russian government
The Justice Department unsealed an indictment on Friday, alleging that a Russian national coordinated a “malign foreign influence campaign” meant to spread propaganda and influence elections in the U.S.
Aleksandr Viktorovich Ionov of Moscow has been charged with conspiring to have U.S. citizens act as illegal agents on behalf of Russia’s government, and he faces up to five years in prison if convicted.
Ionov is accused of targeting three U.S. political groups in Florida, Georgia and California in an effort to further the interests of Moscow through direct funding for specific action, supporting them financially and having them publish propaganda while working with the Russian Federal Security Service, the Justice Department said in a press release about the indictment.
“Ionov used his control over” the leaders of a political group based in St. Petersburg, Fla., “to foster discord within the United States, to spread pro-Russian propaganda under the guise of a domestic political organization, and to interfere in local elections,” the Justice Department alleged in the release.
According to the Justice Department, another political group based in Atlanta allegedly had members’ travel costs covered to go to San Francisco “to protest at the headquarters of a social media company that had placed content restrictions on posts supporting Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.”
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NEW: DOJ indictment accuses Russian national of turning Americans into tools of Russian government https://t.co/y2dimx22m2 pic.twitter.com/R6NCjlDFFl
— The Hill (@thehill) July 29, 2022
A Russian group that hosted Republican Sinn Féin at a dissidents’ conference in Moscow is funded by the Russian state as a vehicle to “poison” and “divide” other countries by influencing their elections and exerting control over some of their political groups, per US authorities.
— Laura Walker 🌻⚖🍸🇺🇸 🏴 (@LauraWalkerKC) August 2, 2022
It is claimed Aleksandr Viktorovich Ionov was working for the Russian Federal Security Service (FSB).
— Laura Walker 🌻⚖🍸🇺🇸 🏴 (@LauraWalkerKC) August 2, 2022
“Secret foreign government efforts to influence American elections and political groups threaten our democracy by spreading misinformation, distrust and mayhem,” said assistant attorney general Kenneth A Polite jnr of the US Justice Department’s criminal division.
— Laura Walker 🌻⚖🍸🇺🇸 🏴 (@LauraWalkerKC) August 2, 2022
An indictment unsealed in Tampa, FL, last Friday claims Ionov, through AGMR, was “working under the supervision of the Russian Federal Security Service and with the Russian government’s support” and it penetrated and controlled political groups in Florida, Georgia and California.
— Laura Walker 🌻⚖🍸🇺🇸 🏴 (@LauraWalkerKC) August 2, 2022
It is alleged that when in California, Ionov supported one political group to “orchestrate a protest demonstration at the California Capitol building in Sacramento” and “attempted to direct” them “to physically enter the governor’s office”.
— Laura Walker 🌻⚖🍸🇺🇸 🏴 (@LauraWalkerKC) August 2, 2022
In another case, the indictment claims Ionov “guaranteed financing for — and ultimately funded — a four-city protest tour undertaken” by one of the political groups he allegedly exerted control over in the US.
(y'all know who you are)
— Laura Walker 🌻⚖🍸🇺🇸 🏴 (@LauraWalkerKC) August 2, 2022
He then emailed FSB officers telling them “our election campaign is kind of unique”, referring to one of those running in a Florida election as the candidate “whom we supervise”.
— Laura Walker 🌻⚖🍸🇺🇸 🏴 (@LauraWalkerKC) August 2, 2022
In a report to the FSB, it is claimed Ionov also said he had enlisted the same US group “to support Russia in the information war unleashed by the West”.
— Laura Walker 🌻⚖🍸🇺🇸 🏴 (@LauraWalkerKC) August 2, 2022
And the indictment https://t.co/yKbT5pWjr4
— Laura Walker 🌻⚖🍸🇺🇸 🏴 (@LauraWalkerKC) August 2, 2022
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