A court in Angola’s capital, Luanda, has found two Russian nationals guilty of terrorism and espionage over what prosecutors described as a Russian-linked political influence operation aimed at destabilising the country ahead of next year’s presidential election.
Political consultant Igor Ratchin was sentenced to 11 years in prison, while translator Lev Lakshtanov received an eight-year prison sentence. Both men denied all the charges brought against them.
The pair were arrested in August 2025 and accused of helping to organise anti-government protests, spreading disinformation and attempting to interfere in Angola’s political affairs.
According to prosecutors, the two men were connected to Africa Politology, an organisation Angolan authorities described as a Russian political network that emerged from the now-non-operational Wagner mercenary group.
Prosecution argued that the network sought to promote anti-Western narratives, build political influence and shape Angola’s political landscape before the country’s presidential elections.
The defendants rejected any links to Wagner or the Russian government, telling the court they had travelled to Angola to establish a Russian cultural centre in Luanda.
The court convicted both men on four charges including criminal association, espionage, terrorism and illegal possession of foreign currency. Their lawyers had earlier requested that they be extradited to Russia under bilateral cooperation agreements, although it remains unclear whether the court approved that request.
Two Angolan nationals who were tried alongside the Russians received different outcomes. Sports journalist Amor Carlos Tomé was handed a two-year suspended sentence, while political activist Francisco Oliveira was acquitted.
However, prosecutors immediately appealed the verdict relating to the Angolan defendants, meaning Tomé is expected to remain in custody while the appeal process continues.
During the trial, prosecutors alleged the Russians paid local journalists and analysts more than $24,000 (£18,000) to publish pro-Russian and anti-government content intended to influence public opinion and encourage political unrest.
They also presented publications, photographs, notes linked to the 2025 protests and alleged contacts with senior Angolan politicians as evidence supporting the case.
The defence consistently challenged the prosecution’s claims, arguing that the indictment relied heavily on assumptions rather than concrete evidence.
According to roports, Lakshtanov told the court he had lived and worked in Angola for nearly four decades and that his academic career was incompatible with involvement in terrorist organisations.
Ratchin maintained he was a businessman whose financial transactions were legitimate payments for professional services related to establishing a cultural centre.
The trial also attracted controversy after prosecutors declined to read the indictment aloud during one of the early public hearings, arguing that the defendants were already familiar with the charges. Defence lawyers objected, saying members of the public and journalists had a right to hear the allegations presented in open court.
The indictment itself had faced criticism before the trial began. Defence lawyers argued that it contained factual inaccuracies and unsupported claims.
The Russian embassy in Angola had not commented on the verdict by the time of publication. Lawyers representing the two Russians also declined to comment further after the judgment, although they told the court they disagreed with the convictions while accepting the court’s decision.
