A Russian operative backed by the Kremlin meddled in United States politics for seven years and recently tried to undermine American support for Ukraine by recruiting local activists to spread pro-Moscow propaganda, the Justice Department announced Friday.

Russian operative used U.S. activist groups to spread propaganda, feds say (archived)

The timing is suspicious, considering they knew about the alleged connections since before ‘Russiagate.’ Are they going after the Texit leader, next, or just going to ignore it (not saying that any of them should be gone after but it just adds to my suspicions)?! A message to the antiwar/anti-imperialist movement?!

Related:

Russian Man Recruited U.S. Groups from Florida, Georgia and California to ‘Sow Discord’ and Push Anti-U.S. ‘Agitprop’

Together, prosecutors say, they recruited political groups within the United States and Ukraine, Spain, the United Kingdom, and Ireland to attend conferences in Russia. Ionov is charged with conspiring to have U.S. citizens act as illegal agents of the Russian government.

Russian man spent years as puppeteer behind US political groups, officials say:

From at least December 2014 to March 2022, the department said, Ionov and at least three other Russian officials engaged in a malign foreign influence campaign targeting the US.

Separately, the US treasury department on Friday imposed sanctions on Ionov, his fellow Russian national Natalya Valeryevna Burlinova, and four Russian entities it accused of backing the Kremlin’s mission of interfering in elections abroad, including in the US and Ukraine.

According to the justice department, the four entities in question are: the Anti-Globalization Movement of Russia (AGMR), which Ionov founded and presides over; Ionov Transkontinental; Stop-Imperialism; and the Center for Support and Development of Public Initiative Creative Diplomacy (Picreadi).

Russian National Charged with Conspiring to Have U.S. Citizens Act as Illegal Agents of the Russian Government

DOJ alleges Russian national used St. Pete-based Uhuru Movement to spread propaganda (Political Group 1?)

Handberg said more federal warrants would be executed Friday at “multiple locations.”

“This investigation is not over. It is ongoing,” Handberg said.

Florida political group defends its ties with Russia after FBI alleges they teamed up with Kremlin agents in a ‘brazen’ attempt to interfere with US elections

YouTube: Florida Uhuru leader defends Russia, bashes Colonial powers after FBI press conference

YouTube: Chairman Omali Yeshitela responds to the FBI attacks on the African People’s Socialist Party

Political Group 2?: Atlanta group implicated in Russian influence scheme

Political Group 3?: California secession movement was funded and directed by Russian intelligence agents, US government alleges

Documents:

Alexander Ionov Indictment

H/T: ATTENTION COMRADES—McCarthyism Has Returned! FBI Raids African People’s Socialist Party!

History:

Russia, where separatism is illegal, hosted a conference for foreign separatist groups (more groups they may go after)

How to Make California Great: Secede, With a Little Help From Putin:

Ionov’s movement courts a number of secessionist groups in the U.S., including some in Hawaii, Puerto Rico, Texas, and Florida, whose representatives have attended its conferences in Moscow. Yes California is “closely coordinating” with the Texas Nationalist Movement, Marinelli said.

Texit Forces Welcomed At A Russian Separatist Conference