The connection seems to be Alexander Ionov,Yevgeny Prigozhin, Africa, and the Countering Malign Russian Activities in Africa Act, which in part targets Yevgeny Prigozhin and the Wagner Group.
2/15/24 Leonard Goodman on Biden’s Attempt to Imprison Antiwar Dissidents (YouTube video)
[02-01-24] INTERVIEW: Omali Yeshitela, Facing 15-Years for “Pro-Russian Propaganda”
[02-01-24] Urgent Call To Defend The Uhuru Movement Against Imprisonment
‘I Know You Are But What Am I’: Russia’s Ready Response to US Africa-Alarmism – not about Russiagate2 but a more realistic look at African-Russian relations.
04.18.2023: U.S. charges four Americans with aiding Kremlin efforts (DoJ Press Release)(37 Page Indictment-PDF)
U.S. imposes economic sanctions on black community projects
FBI Attack on the Uhuru Movement is a Warning
Congressional Black Caucus member Gregory Meeks can be thanked for continuing the notion that Black people should not be trusted to think for themselves. *H.R. 7311, Countering Malign Russian Activities in Africa Act, is not just directed at nations on the African continent. Should it be signed into law by the president it requires reporting on, “…African governments and their policies, as well as the public opinions and voting preferences of African populations and diaspora groups, including those in the United States…” CBC treachery is yet another factor which makes this era of state persecution even more perilous.
US debates bill to counter ‘malign’ Russian activities in Africa
The *Countering Malign Russian Activities in Africa Act passed the House of Representatives on 27 April by a huge, bipartisan 419-9 majority and is now sure to be passed by the Senate and become law soon. It would direct the US Secretary of State ‘to develop and submit to Congress a strategy and implementation plan outlining United States efforts to counter the malign influence and activities of the Russian Federation and its proxies in Africa.’
The bill broadly defines such malign activities as those that ‘undermine United States objectives and interests.’ The Secretary of State would have to monitor the actions of Russia’s government and its ‘proxies’ – including private military companies (clearly Wagner is in the sights) and oligarchs.
…
Meeks also presented the bill as supportive of Africa, intended to protect ‘all innocent people who have been victimised by Putin’s mercenaries and agents credibly accused of gross violations of human rights in Africa, including in the Central African Republic and Mali.’ It is specifically in the Central African Republic (CAR) and Mali that Wagner has been accused of committing human rights violations to prop up dubious governments and thwart Western interests.
…
And some of the actions that the bill enjoins could benefit Africa. It targets Russian efforts to ‘manipulate African governments and their policies, as well as the public opinions and voting preferences of African populations.’
What the authors seem to have in mind here are, for instance, the purported efforts by alleged Russian government proxies to bribe candidates in the last Madagascar elections, and the activities in Africa of the *Association for Free Research and International Cooperation (AFRIC). This is a Russian election observation organisation, ostensibly independent, but which appears to be run by *Yevgeny Prigozhin, the man widely known as Putin’s chef and believed to run Wagner.
Written by Peter Fabricius, at the Institute for Security Studies, for the Hanns Seidel Foundation, the European Union, the Open Society Foundations and the governments of Denmark, Ireland, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, USAID, **International Committee of the Red Cross and more.
*TREASURY FURTHER TARGETS YEVGENIY PRIGOZHIN’S NETWORK IN AFRICA
Russian operative used U.S. activist groups to spread propaganda, feds say
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).
Alexander Ionov case: US charges Russian with interfering in US politics:
The US indictment says that from at least December 2014 until March 2022, Mr Ionov and at least three Russian officials “engaged in a years-long foreign malign influence campaign targeting the United States”.
Mr Ionov has denounced some independent Russian media organisations, including The Bell and Meduza, and got them labelled as “foreign agents” under Russian law. That label restricts their activities in Russia.
The US Treasury Department also announced sanctions against Mr Ionov, the AGMR and two other organisations allegedly controlled by him: the STOP-Imperialism website and Ionov Transcontinental, a company “which has a footprint in Iran, Venezuela and Lebanon”.
Sanctions were also imposed on Natalya Valeryevna Burlinova and her Center for Support and Development of Public Initiative Creative Diplomacy (PICREADI). The US statement alleges that PICREADI is funded by the Russian state, despite claiming to be independent.
…
Mr Ionov is also alleged to be an associate of Yevgeny Prigozhin, who is under US sanctions for Kremlin interference in the 2016 presidential election won by Donald Trump.*
The Treasury Department says Mr Ionov “sought to collaborate with Prigozhin’s Foundation for Battling Injustice (FBR) about the feasibility of directly supporting a specific candidate in a 2022 US gubernatorial election”.
It adds that in mid-2021 he “worked to disseminate and promulgate disinformation that would influence the US election process”.
FBI Raids Homes, Offices Of Activists In Black Uhuru Movement
[Louis] Marinelli, who is white, was previously linked to the Russian government in US news media reports, but the FBI did not raid Marinelli’s home or the homes of any individuals linked to the secession campaign.
Uhuru leaders call FBI raid ‘attack against our movement’; DOJ alleges Russian ties
PSL statement: Condemn the FBI attacks on the African People’s Socialist Party
FBI stages COINTELPRO-like raid on Black socialist group, alleges Russian government connection
FBI raid on African Peoples’ Socialist Party denounced
Condemn the FBI raids in St Louis, MO and St Petersburg, FL!
Alexander Viktorovich Ionov:
Accused Russian Says U.S. Charges of Election Interference Are Nonsense
Wikipedia – Alexander Viktorovich Ionov (archived 08.01.22)
Uhuhu Movement – African People’s Socialist Party (Political Group 1):
DOJ alleges Russian national used St. Pete-based Uhuru Movement to spread propaganda (Political Group 1?)
For some in St. Petersburg’s Black communities, Uhuru raid ‘doesn’t smell good’
What happens next in St. Petersburg case with links to Russian conspiracy?
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
YouTube: Omali Yeshitela & Gerald Horne discuss the FBI Raids of the Uhuru Movement’s offices and homes
YouTube: Gerald Horne on the FBI Raids of the Uhuru Movement’s offices and homes and the broader implications (shorter clip from above interview)
YouTube: FBI Raided A 50-Year-Old Black Liberation Group, Claimed Russia Influenced Their Agenda
Black Hammer Party (Political Group 2?):
In 2014, Kodzo joined the African People’s Socialist Party (APSP) in Saint Petersburgh, Florida led by African socialist, Omali Yeshitela. Yeshitela announced in 2017 that Kodzo would become Secretary General of the party.
Shortly after, Kodzo and other former party members announced in his video that he left the party. The controversial YouTuber said he left the party due to political differences within the organization and alleged financial issues.
Gazi Kodzo
Atlanta group implicated in Russian influence scheme
Louis J. Marinelli, CalExit, Yes California (Political Group 3?):
2016 – Texas, California Separatists Attend Kremlin-Funded Conference
2017 – Leader of Calexit movement called into question for ties to Russia
Did Russia provide funding and support for booster of California secession movement?
A political searcher agitates for the independent nation of California
How to Make California Great: Secede, With a Little Help From Putin (archived)
Yes California statement on Russian funding accusations (AGAIN) – Marcus Ruiz Evans* says that they were already cleared and that the FBI is only focusing on Louis J Marinell—more links in the video description.
Louis’ Response: No, Alexander Ionov never funded or “exercised direction or control” over me or the California independence campaign (archived)
Wikipedia – Yes California (archived 08.01.22, 01.07.17)
Wikipedia- Louis J. Marinelli (archived 08.01.22, 11.11.16)
Yes California & Texit:
Texit Forces Welcomed At A Russian Separatist Conference
Moscow welcomes the (would-be) sovereign nations of California and Texas
Wikipedia – Texas Nationalist Movement (Nate Smith & Texas Nationalist Movement is mentioned in above article but not in Wikipedia)
*Yevgeny Prigozhin
Wikipedia – Yevgeny Prigozhin (archived 07.29.22)
Documents:
DOJ press release (archived 07.29.22):
According to the indictment, Ionov — working under the supervision of the FSB and with the Russian government’s support — recruited political groups within the United States, including U.S. Political Group 1 in Florida, U.S. Political Group 2 in Georgia, and U.S. Political Group 3 in California, and exercised direction or control over them on behalf of the FSB. Specifically, Ionov provided financial support to these groups, directed them to publish pro-Russian propaganda, coordinated and funded direct action by these groups within the United States intended to further Russian interests, and coordinated coverage of this activity in Russian media outlets. Ionov also relayed detailed information about this influence campaign to three FSB officials.
History:
Russia, where separatism is illegal, hosted a conference for foreign separatist groups (more groups they may go after?!)
Russia funds Moscow conference for US, EU and Ukraine separatists
According to organisers from the Anti-Globalist Movement of Russia, funding for the gathering was provided in part by a state grant from the National Charity Fund, which was founded as the National Military Fund in 1999 by then-PM Vladimir Putin. The National Charity Fund gets money from large state-owned and public companies and oligarchs. Participants were offered airfare and accommodations.
The Kremlin’s double standards make it harder to talk with the West
Wikipedia – Nou Ke Akua Ke Aupuni O Hawaiʻi – The Kingdom of Hawaiʻi
Ms. Cat’s Chronicles 
You must be logged in to post a comment.