A court in Luanda convicted two Russian nationals on terrorism and espionage charges. Igor Ratchin, a political consultant, received an 11-year sentence, while translator Lev Lakshtanov was given eight years. Both men had contested the allegations against them throughout the proceedings.
Authorities arrested the pair in August 2025 on accusations of organizing anti-government protests, conducting disinformation campaigns, and attempting to interfere with forthcoming presidential elections. Prosecutors alleged the men were part of Africa Politology, which Angolan officials characterized as a Russian political network with roots in the defunct Wagner mercenary organization. The prosecution contended they sought to advance anti-Western messaging, establish political connections, and influence Angola’s political landscape ahead of scheduled elections.
The defendants maintained their innocence, claiming they held no ties to Wagner or the Russian state and were instead developing plans for a Russian cultural center in Luanda. The court found them guilty of four of eleven charges, including criminal association, espionage, terrorism, and unlawful currency retention. Prosecutors alleged the Russians paid local journalists and experts over $24,000 to distribute pro-Russian and anti-government content intended to spark political upheaval. They also cited publications from the operation, documentary materials from the defendants’ devices, and alleged contacts with senior Angolan political figures as evidence.
Two Angolan nationals charged alongside the Russians received different outcomes. Sports journalist Amor Carlos Tomé was handed a two-year suspended sentence, while political activist Francisco Oliveira was acquitted. Both had denied participation in the alleged influence campaign.
Prosecutors announced an immediate appeal following the verdict, delivered after 11 p.m. local time on Tuesday. The trial, which commenced in March, was marked by procedural disputes, including disagreement over whether the indictment should be read aloud during initial hearings and subsequent criticism of the document’s reliance on assumptions rather than definitive evidence.
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