On January 26, 2022, the United States Department of Justice charged two individuals, Aleksandr Potepkin and Anastasia Zinchenko, who were employees of the Russia-based RT News Network, for alleged interference in the political processes.
The indictment alleged that they conspired with others to violate the Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA), which requires individuals or entities representing foreign principals in a political or quasi-political capacity to make disclosures to the government about the relationships and the nature of their activities.
They stand accused of working for Project Lakhta, a Russia-backed campaign that targeted American citizens with disinformation and propaganda, aimed at causing divisions among the populace, influence public opinion, and interfere with the electoral process, without registering as foreign agents.
To disrupt Project Lakhta’s operations, U.S. seized seven internet domains used by the defendants to disseminate disinformation. This action signifies the government’s commitment to countering foreign influence and interference in the democratic processes, the importance of transparency about who is behind information campaigns and the consequences for those who break the law.
