Russian Nationals Charged in $10 Million Scheme to Influence U.S. Audiences
Note: View the indictment here.
In a significant development, an indictment against Russian nationals Kostiantyn Kalashnikov, 31, and Elena Afanasyeva, 27, has been unsealed in the Southern District of New York. The charges involve conspiracy to violate the Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA) and conspiracy to commit money laundering. Both individuals remain at large.
Attorney General Merrick B. Garland stated, “The Justice Department has charged two employees of RT, a Russian state-controlled media outlet, in a $10 million scheme to create and distribute content to U.S. audiences with hidden Russian government messaging.” He emphasized the department’s stance against covert propaganda efforts by foreign entities.
Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco highlighted the nature of the operation, explaining, “As alleged in today’s indictment, Russian state broadcaster RT and its employees, including the charged defendants, co-opted online commentators by funneling them nearly $10 million to pump pro-Russia propaganda and disinformation across social media to U.S. audiences.”
FBI Director Christopher A. Wray added, “Covert attempts to sow division and trick Americans into unwittingly consuming foreign propaganda represents attacks on our democracy.” He assured that the FBI remains vigilant against such hostile influence campaigns.
According to Assistant Attorney General Matthew G. Olsen of the Justice Department’s National Security Division, “The Russian government has long sought to sow discord and chaos in the United States through propaganda and foreign malign influence campaigns. As alleged, the covert operations by RT employees exploited our free and open press and targeted millions of Americans as unwitting victims of Russia’s psychological warfare.”
U.S. Attorney Damian Williams for the Southern District of New York described the scale of the operation, stating, “As alleged, the Russian state broadcaster RT orchestrated a massive scheme to influence the American public by secretly planting and financing a content creation company on U.S. soil.”
Court documents reveal that RT, formerly known as Russia Today, covertly financed and directed a Tennessee-based online content creation company (U.S. Company-1) with nearly $10 million. This company published English-language videos on social media platforms such as TikTok, Instagram, X, and YouTube. Since its launch in November 2023, U.S. Company-1 has produced nearly 2,000 videos, amassing over 16 million views on YouTube. These videos often covered topics like immigration and inflation, aligning with the goals of the Russian government to amplify domestic divisions in the U.S.
Kalashnikov and Afanasyeva operated under false identities to manage U.S. Company-1. Kalashnikov, posing as an outside editor, oversaw content and funding, while Afanasyeva, using aliases Helena Shudra and Victoria Pesti, directed the posting of videos and interacted with U.S. Company-1 staff. For example, following a terrorist attack in Moscow, Afanasyeva instructed the company to blame Ukraine and the United States, reflecting the manipulative nature of their operations.
Between October 2023 and August 2024, RT funneled approximately $9.7 million to U.S. Company-1 through shell companies in Turkey, the United Arab Emirates, and Mauritius. These transactions were often disguised as payments for electronics, such as the $318,800 wire transfer labeled “BUYING GOODS-INV.013-IPHONE 15 PRO MAX 512GB.”
U.S. Company-1 did not disclose its funding and direction by RT to its viewers, nor did it register as an agent of a foreign principal as required by FARA.
Kalashnikov and Afanasyeva face charges of conspiracy to violate FARA, carrying a maximum sentence of five years, and conspiracy to commit money laundering, carrying a maximum sentence of 20 years. Sentencing will be determined by a federal district court judge based on the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other factors.
The FBI is currently investigating the case, with Assistant U.S. Attorneys Alexander Li and Juliana Murray, and Trial Attorney Brett Reynolds of the Justice Department’s National Security Division Counterintelligence and Export Control Section leading the prosecution.
An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
