The U.S. government has taken significant steps to counteract a Russian influence campaign targeting American politics. On Wednesday, authorities announced a series of measures against Russian-backed operations aimed at undermining U.S. elections.
These actions include sanctions against ten individuals and two entities, the seizure of 32 internet domain names, and the filing of charges against two employees of RT, the Russian state-run media outlet formerly known as Russia Today.
Among those sanctioned are prominent figures from RT, including Editor-in-Chief Margarita Simonyan, Deputy Editor-in-Chief Elizaveta Brodskaia, and Anton Anisimov, another Deputy Editor-in-Chief.
The two RT employees charged are Kostiantyn Kalashnikov, 31, and Elena Afanasyeva, 27. They are accused of using a Tennessee-based company to disseminate misinformation funded by RT.
The U.S. Department of Justice alleges that these individuals violated laws requiring foreign agents to register with the government and committed money laundering. Both remain at large.
Attorney General Merrick B. Garland stated that the Justice Department's actions involve seizing 32 internet domains used by Russian government-sponsored actors to interfere in U.S. elections.
The domains were filled with Kremlin-created propaganda designed to weaken international support for Ukraine, promote pro-Russian policies, and influence American voters.
Garland highlighted an internal Kremlin document that revealed the campaign's goal of securing Russia's preferred outcome in the 2024 U.S. presidential election. This document underscores the extent of the Russian government's efforts to manipulate political outcomes abroad.
U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen emphasised that the sanctions and designations demonstrate the U.S. government's commitment to holding state-sponsored actors accountable for eroding public trust in American institutions.
Secretary of State Antony Blinken added that these measures include a new visa restriction policy, determinations under the Foreign Missions Act for RT’s parent company Rossiya Segodnya, and other subsidiaries like RIA Novosti, Sputnik, and Ruptly. Additionally, the U.S. is offering rewards for information related to these covert operations.
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