Two RT Employees Indicted for Covertly Funding U.S. Company to Push Russian Propaganda

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Russian Nationals Directed $10 Million to U.S. Content Creation Firm to Spread Pro-Russian Messaging

In a significant move against foreign malign influence, the U.S. Justice Department announced the indictment of two Russian nationals, Kostiantyn Kalashnikov and Elena Afanasyeva, for their roles in a covert operation that funneled nearly $10 million to a Tennessee-based online content creation company. The indictment, unsealed in the Southern District of New York, charges the pair with conspiracy to violate the Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA) and conspiracy to commit money laundering. Kalashnikov and Afanasyeva, employees of Russian state-controlled media outlet RT, remain at large.

Covert Campaign to Influence American Public Opinion

The indictment alleges that RT, under the control of the Russian government, used Kalashnikov and Afanasyeva to covertly finance and direct U.S. Company-1, which published nearly 2,000 videos on various social media platforms, including TikTok, Instagram, X, and YouTube. These videos, which amassed over 16 million views on YouTube alone, contained commentary on U.S. domestic and foreign policy issues, such as immigration and inflation, and aimed to amplify divisions within the United States.

According to court documents, RT’s operation involved extensive use of cybersquatting and fake personas, with Kalashnikov and Afanasyeva using aliases like Helena Shudra and Victoria Pesti to manage and direct the content published by U.S. Company-1. Their covert roles included editing content, overseeing funding, and instructing company staff to push narratives favorable to Russian interests. One directive even involved blaming Ukraine and the United States for a terrorist attack in Moscow, demonstrating the extent of their influence over the content’s messaging.

Unregistered Foreign Influence and Money Laundering

The charges highlight RT's use of shell companies in Turkey, the United Arab Emirates, and Mauritius to funnel payments to U.S. Company-1, which accounted for nearly 90% of the company’s bank deposits. These transactions were disguised as purchases of electronics, with misleading wire notes referencing items like “IPHONE 15 PRO MAX 512GB.” Despite the substantial financial backing from RT, neither U.S. Company-1 nor its founders disclosed the source of funding or registered as foreign agents, as required under FARA.

Attorney General Merrick B. Garland emphasized that the Justice Department will not tolerate foreign attempts to manipulate American public opinion through covert propaganda campaigns. “The Justice Department will not tolerate attempts by an authoritarian regime to exploit our country’s free exchange of ideas in order to covertly further its own propaganda efforts,” Garland said.

National Security Threat and Legal Consequences

FBI Director Christopher A. Wray described these covert actions as attacks on American democracy, pointing out that as long as foreign adversaries continue such hostile influence campaigns, they will face repercussions from U.S. law enforcement. U.S. Attorney Damian Williams reiterated the commitment to exposing and prosecuting those involved in malign influence operations, stressing that the true victims of this scheme are the American public.

Kalashnikov and Afanasyeva face significant legal consequences if apprehended and convicted. They are charged with conspiracy to violate FARA, carrying a maximum sentence of five years in prison, and conspiracy to commit money laundering, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years. The FBI continues to investigate the case, with prosecutions led by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Alexander Li and Juliana Murray and Trial Attorney Brett Reynolds of the Justice Department’s National Security Division.

This case underscores the ongoing threat of foreign influence in American society and the Justice Department’s proactive measures to safeguard the integrity of U.S. democratic processes.