Two Russian men have gone on trial in Angola accused of running a covert influence campaign to stir anti-government unrest and interfere in next year’s presidential vote.
Igor Ratchin and Lev Lakshtanov were arrested in August and face 11 charges between them, including terrorism, espionage and influence peddling.
Angolan prosecutors say the pair worked with a wider network that grew out of operatives linked to the Wagner Group.
The defendants’ lawyers reject that narrative, saying there is no proof of ties to Wagner or the Russian state.
They maintain their clients were involved in plans for a cultural centre in Luanda that never opened.
Prosecutors have also charged two Angolans: sports journalist Amor Carlos Tomé and youth activist Francisco Oliveira.
Authorities accuse them of assisting the alleged operation; both men and their lawyers say the case rests on speculation rather than solid evidence.
Angola’s natural resources and strategic location have long attracted outside interest.
Since the war in Ukraine, however, Luanda has shifted closer to Western partners and moved away from some Russian economic ties, including sanctioned firms that left the country.
Investigators say the campaign began in 2024 with a small team entering the capital under the pretext of cultural activities.
The indictment names other Russian figures who reportedly rotated through Angola, including Maxim Shugalei, a controversial operator previously linked to disinformation efforts elsewhere in Africa.
Prosecutors say the defendants paid local journalists and commentators more than $24,000 to publish content that would undermine trust in the government’s Western connections and push public sentiment toward Russia.
Examples cited include articles and social media posts criticizing a Western-backed rail project and warning Angola could be drawn into the war in Ukraine.
Some local outlets told investigators they received material via intermediaries and did not publish it for payment.
Defence lawyers say there is no proof the Russians commissioned the disputed pieces.
Authorities also allege meetings were held with senior political figures from both the ruling MPLA and the opposition Unita, and that offers of campaign support were discussed.
The indictment mentions a purported $15m offer to one prominent MPLA figure, but it provides no hard evidence to back that claim, according to legal teams.
The charges include claims the group stoked the violent protests that broke out in July, which began as a taxi drivers’ strike and escalated nationwide.
Official figures put the death toll at 29 and more than 1,200 arrests.
Prosecutors point to notes and photographs found on the Russians’ phones as proof; defence lawyers say the material was collected for personal safety and is not evidence of orchestration.
Many Angolan activists and journalists reject the idea that the unrest was foreign-directed, arguing the demonstrations reflected deep economic grievances.
Observers also point to inconsistencies and factual errors in the indictment, such as incorrect dates for visits by named operatives.
Legal experts say the prosecution’s challenge will be to prove a deliberate, coordinated plan to subvert Angola’s political process rather than a series of isolated activities.
If convicted, the Russians could face deportation, but Moscow appears unlikely to treat them as official agents, according to diplomatic sources who describe them as private contractors rather than state operatives.
