Angola Charges Russian Nationals Over Terrorism, Espionage & Unrest

Angola’s prosecution of two Russian nationals centers on alleged foreign influence operations playing a decisive role in domestic unrest. Arrested in August 2025, Igor Ratchin and Lev Lakshtanov face 11 charges including terrorism, espionage and influence peddling.

Prosecutors allege that between 2024 and 2025 they coordinated a campaign to “provoke political change,” including payments totaling more than $24,000 to local actors. Their lawyers argue the indictment lacks “concrete and objective facts.”

Authorities link the case to Africa Politology, described as a successor network to the Wagner Group.

Wagner’s trajectory shifted after June 23-24, 2023, when Yevgeny Prigozhin launched and then halted an armed rebellion before his death in a plane crash on August 23, 2023.

Russian-linked operatives have remained active across Africa for more than a decade. Angola represents a newer arena, as Luanda has gradually distanced itself from Moscow, with President João Lourenço not meeting Vladimir Putin since 2019 and Russian firms exiting due to sanctions tied to the Ukraine war.

Prosecutors cite online content from December 2024 and January 2025 as evidence of a coordinated campaign targeting Western-backed projects such as the Lobito Corridor. The stated aim was to undermine trust in Angola’s foreign policy direction.

One analyst described the effort as reflecting “Russian anxiety of the direction of travel of Angola.”

Defense lawyers deny any role in commissioning such material or links to Wagner-linked entities.

Two Angolans - journalist Amor Carlos Tomé and activist Francisco Oliveira - are also charged, facing nine and five counts respectively. Prosecutors allege Oliveira facilitated contacts with political actors, while Tomé gathered intelligence and supported content dissemination.

The indictment includes claims of offers of up to $15m in campaign support to political figures, though supporting evidence is not detailed. Defense teams say the accusations rely on “mere conjecture.”

Authorities connect the defendants to July 2025 protests in Luanda that left at least 29 dead and more than 1,200 people arrested. Evidence cited includes phone notes and photographs, which have not been publicly disclosed.

Critics reject the foreign interference narrative, pointing to structural pressures. The World Bank estimates nearly 40% of Angolans live below $3 per day.

“People were protesting because of their living conditions, not because someone from another country told them to,” said a Human Rights Watch researcher.