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onandup

(701 posts)
Wed Sep 4, 2024, 09:10 PM Sep 2024

Justice Dept. charges two Russian media operatives in alleged scheme

Source: Washington Post

The Justice Department on Wednesday charged two Russian media executives in an alleged scheme that authorities say illegally funneled millions of dollars to a Tennessee-based company to create and publish propaganda videos that racked up millions of views on U.S. social media.

The 32-page federal indictment accuses Kostiantyn Kalashnikov and Elena Afanasyeva, employees of RT, a Russian-state news site formerly known as Russia Today, of conducting a money-laundering operation that spent nearly $10 million on efforts to covertly influence public opinion and sow social divisions, including placing blame on Ukraine regarding the war with Russia.

Authorities said the U.S. company, which was not identified by name in the indictment, allegedly created and posted hundreds of English-language videos on social media sites, including TikTok, Instagram, YouTube and X, a site formerly known as Twitter, that echoed Russian state propaganda and garnered 16 million views on YouTube alone.

Kalashnikov and Afanasyeva, Russian citizens who remain at large, were charged with conspiracy to violate the Foreign Agents Registration Act, which carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison, and conspiracy to commit money laundering, which is punishable by up to 20 years, authorities said.

Read more: https://archive.ph/hZ2RJ

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Justice Dept. charges two Russian media operatives in alleged scheme (Original Post) onandup Sep 2024 OP
So Garland indicts the 2 Russians who are gab13by13 Sep 2024 #1
Weissman on Lawrence said that likely means the two are cooperating, Qutzupalotl Sep 2024 #3
Keep it up. Martin68 Sep 2024 #2
When will they arrest traitor scum Tucker Carlson ? Mysterian Sep 2024 #4

gab13by13

(25,624 posts)
1. So Garland indicts the 2 Russians who are
Wed Sep 4, 2024, 09:19 PM
Sep 2024

most likely in Russia, but does not indict the 2 founders of the Tennessee Company, Tenet Media, who are right here in the US of A.

WTH, Musk is spreading Putin disinformation on X.

Qutzupalotl

(15,170 posts)
3. Weissman on Lawrence said that likely means the two are cooperating,
Thu Sep 5, 2024, 08:45 AM
Sep 2024

and that normally, with this much evidence, we would see an indictment of the two, so that's his read between the lines.

Mysterian

(5,225 posts)
4. When will they arrest traitor scum Tucker Carlson ?
Thu Sep 5, 2024, 08:52 AM
Sep 2024

He's the worst foreign agent out there.

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