Published September 04,2024
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U.S. authorities unsealed an indictment Wednesday in opposition to two staff of Russian broadcaster RT and seized 32 web domains on accusations of interference within the November presidential elections.
The Justice Department mentioned it charged Russian nationals Kostiantyn Kalashnikov, 31, and Elena Afanasyeva, 27, with conspiracy to violate the Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA) and conspiracy to commit cash laundering.
They are accused of being concerned “in a $10 million scheme to create and distribute content to U.S. audiences with hidden Russian government messaging,” Attorney General Merrick Garland mentioned in a press release.
He mentioned the web domains have been utilized by the Russian authorities and Russian government-sponsored actors to interact in a covert marketing campaign to intrude in and affect the end result of U.S. elections.
“The charges unsealed this morning do not represent the end of the investigation. It remains active and ongoing,” he mentioned at a news convention.
Garland additionally alleged that Russian President Vladimir Putin’s inside circle, together with Sergei Kiriyenko, directed Russian public relations firms to advertise disinformation and state-sponsored narratives as a part of a marketing campaign to affect the U.S. presidential election.
“An internal planning document created by the Kremlin states that a goal of the campaign is to secure Russia’s preferred outcome in the election. The sites we are seizing today were filled with Russian government propaganda that had been created by the Kremlin to reduce international support for Ukraine, bolster pro-Russian policies and interests, and influence voters in the United States and other countries,” he added.
In a press release following the announcement, Secretary of State Antony Blinken mentioned the division is taking three steps to counter Kremlin-backed media retailers’ “malicious operations” to affect the U.S. elections.
Those embrace introducing a brand new visa restriction coverage, Foreign Missions Act determinations of RT’s father or mother firm Rossiya Segodnya, and different subsidiaries RIA Novosti, RT, TV-Novosti, Sputnik and Ruptly. The U.S. additionally will announce a Rewards for Justice provide, mentioned Blinken.
The State Department will even act to “hinder malicious actors from using Kremlin-supported media as a cover to conduct such covert influence activities,” mentioned Blinken.
Garland mentioned Russia shouldn’t be the one overseas energy looking for to intrude in U.S. elections, indicating that Washington has noticed Iranian exercise throughout the election cycle.
“We will be relentlessly aggressive in countering and disrupting attempts by Russia, and Iran, as well as China or any other malign actor interfering in elections and undermining our democracy,” mentioned Garland.
Source: www.anews.com.tr