A court in the Angolan capital, Luanda, has convicted two Russian nationals on terrorism and spying charges linked to an alleged political influence campaign.
Political consultant Igor Ratchin was sentenced to 11 years in prison, while translator Lev Lakshtanov received an eight-year sentence following a trial that concluded late on Tuesday. Both men had denied the charges.
The pair were arrested in August 2025 and accused of inciting anti-government protests, running disinformation campaigns, and attempting to interfere in Angola’s upcoming presidential election.
Links to Russian influence network
In the indictment, prosecutors alleged the men were operating on behalf of Africa Politology—a Russian network that emerged from the disbanded Wagner mercenary group.
According to state prosecutors:
- Disinformation Campaign: The defendants allegedly paid local journalists and analysts over $24,000 (£18,000) to spread pro-Russian and anti-government content to provoke political instability.
- Protest Staging: Authorities linked digital evidence and notes found on the defendants’ devices to deadly unrest that occurred in Angola in 2025.
- Political Infiltration: The network sought to cultivate contacts across the political spectrum to advance anti-Western narratives ahead of the presidential poll.
The defendants rejected any ties to Wagner or covert political operations, maintaining that they were in Luanda solely to establish a Russian cultural center.
Mixed verdicts for local co-defendants
Two Angolan nationals were tried alongside the Russians for their alleged roles in the operation.
Sports journalist Amor Carlos Tomé was handed a two-year suspended sentence, while political activist Francisco Oliveira was acquitted. Prosecutors have already lodged an appeal against the judgments, and Tomé is expected to remain in custody while the appeal is processed.
Defense lawyer Elizeu Nguiniti accepted the court’s jurisdiction but expressed strong disagreement with the verdict, which found his clients guilty of four out of 11 initial counts—including criminal association, illegal currency retention, terrorism, and espionage.
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