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Luanda, 24 March 2026
Russians face trial for alleged anti-government plot
Two Russian nationals, political consultant Igor Ratchin and translator Lev Lakshtanov, are set to stand trial in Angola on charges of inciting anti-government protests, spreading disinformation, and attempting to influence next year's presidential election. Arrested in August 2025, they face 11 counts, including terrorism, espionage, and influence peddling, according to an indictment obtained by the BBC.
Alleged ties to Wagner-linked network
Prosecutors claim the defendants acted on behalf of Africa Politology, a shadowy network of operatives and intelligence officers with roots in the now-defunct Wagner Group. The group's founder, Yevgeny Prigozhin, died in a 2023 plane crash. Wagner-linked operatives have been active across Africa for over a decade, particularly in the Central African Republic, Mali, and Madagascar.
The defense denies any connection to Africa Politology or the Wagner Group, insisting the pair were in Angola to establish a cultural center called Russian House in Luanda. They also reject claims of acting on behalf of the Russian state.
Angola's shifting alliances and Russian interests
Angola, a top African oil producer and diamond exporter, has long been a strategic interest for Moscow. However, ties have weakened under President João Lourenço, who has pivoted toward the West. Russian companies like diamond miner Alrosa and bank VTB were forced out due to sanctions over the Ukraine war. Lourenço last met Russian President Vladimir Putin in 2019.
Alex Vines, Africa programme director at the European Council on Foreign Relations, suggests the alleged operation reflects Russian anxiety over Angola's Western drift. "There's clearly an element of disinformation to build sympathy for Russia," he told the BBC.
Local accomplices and disinformation campaign
Two Angolans-sports journalist Amor Carlos Tomé and political activist Francisco Oliveira-are also on trial for their roles in the alleged influence operation. Tomé faces nine charges, including espionage, while Oliveira faces five. Their lawyers argue the indictment lacks concrete evidence, calling it "mere conjecture."
Prosecutors allege the Russians paid over $24,000 (£17,900) to local journalists and experts to disseminate propaganda in 2024-2025, aiming to "provoke political change." Authorities view this as part of a broader effort to undermine trust in Western partners and discredit Lourenço's foreign policy.
A January 2025 Facebook post, mimicking local news site Angola 24 Horas, warned Angola could be drawn into the Ukraine war. Another post criticized the Western-backed Lobito Corridor rail project, claiming foreign firms exploited Angola's minerals. The BBC could not verify the posts' origins, and the satirical page did not respond to inquiries.
Meetings with political elites and protest allegations
The indictment claims Ratchin and Lakshtanov met senior figures from Angola's ruling MPLA party and opposition Unita, offering campaign support. Prosecutors allege they promised MPLA heavyweight General Higino Carneiro up to $15 million (£11 million) in funding, alongside security and intelligence assistance. No evidence of this offer was included in the indictment.
Unita's Jonas Mulato dismissed the allegations as politically motivated, while Carneiro did not respond to requests for comment. The defense argues the meetings never took place.
Prosecutors also accuse the Russians of orchestrating last July's deadly protests, citing notes and photos found on Ratchin's phone. The defense claims the images were taken for safety reasons. Human rights groups reject the idea that the protests were foreign-instigated, citing widespread poverty as the root cause.
Flaws in the indictment and Russia's stance
The indictment has drawn criticism for errors, including a timeline discrepancy: prosecutors claim the operation began on 9 October 2024, but key operative Maxim Shugalei was arrested in Chad on 19 September 2024 and returned to Moscow in November. The BBC sought clarification but received no response.
Legal expert Rui Verde, of the University of Oxford, says the prosecution must prove the defendants' actions formed a deliberate pattern of subversion. If convicted, the Russians could be deported, but Moscow appears uninterested in intervening. A diplomatic source told the BBC: "These were contractors, not state agents. Russia's position in Angola is already weak."
Broader context: Angola's political tensions
The trial unfolds amid rising political tensions in Angola. Nearly 40% of Angolans live below the international poverty line of $3 per day, fueling unrest. Last July's protests, the deadliest since the 2002 civil war, left 29 dead and over 1,200 arrested. Activists accuse authorities of using the Russians as scapegoats to deflect from domestic grievances.
"People were protesting because of their living conditions, not because someone from another country told them to," said Sheila Nhancale of Human Rights Watch.
