Trial began in US for four Russian agents from African social party

All four individuals are either currently affiliated with or have previously been linked to the African People’s Socialist Party and Uhuru Movement, which have offices in St. Petersburg, Florida, and St. Louis. Among the defendants is Omali Yeshitela, an 82-year-old leader of an American organization focused on advancing Black empowerment and seeking reparations for slavery and what it considers to be genocide against Africans.

The attorney for the 82-year-old activist stated that while the group shares many goals with the Russian organization known as the Anti-Globalization Movement of Russia, it does not operate under the control of the Russian government.

Yeshitela and two others are charged with conspiracy to commit fraud and failing to register with the Department of Justice as foreign agents. The fourth defendant, who later founded a separate group in Atlanta called Black Hammer, faces only conspiracy charges. All four have pleaded not guilty.

Three Russians, two of whom prosecutors claim are agents of Russian intelligence, are also defendants in the case but have not been arrested.

While there are echoes of claims regarding Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election, US District Judge William Jung has stated that these issues are not part of the current trial.

“This trial will not address Russian interference in the 2016 US Presidential election,” Jung said.

In his opening statement, Justice Department prosecutor Menno Goedman asserted that the group acted under Russian direction to organize protests in 2016, alleging that Black individuals were victims of genocide in the US. Over the following six years, they undertook other actions benefiting Russia, including opposing US policies regarding Russia's war against Ukraine.

"This is about dividing Americans, dividing communities, turning neighbor against neighbor. The defendants acted at the direction of the Russian government to sow division right here in the US," Goedman told the jury.

This included supporting a candidate for the St. Petersburg City Council in 2019, whom, according to the indictment, the Russians controlled. The candidate lost the race and has not been charged in the case.

A significant portion of the alleged collaboration involved supporting Russia's invasion of Ukraine. In March 2022, Yeshitela held a press conference stating that the African People’s Socialist Party calls for unity with Russia in its defensive war in Ukraine against the world colonial powers. He also called for the independence of the Russian-occupied Donetsk region in eastern Ukraine.

Yeshitela, Penny Hess, and Jesse Nevel face up to 15 years in prison if convicted. The fourth defendant, Augustus Romain, faces a maximum of five years.

The trial is expected to last up to four weeks.

In June, Bloomberg, citing US intelligence officials, reported that Russia poses the most serious threat in this election cycle. Sources told the agency that Moscow is likely viewing the elections as an opportunity to advance its broader objectives - namely, to reduce support for Ukraine's military efforts, undermine trust in democratic institutions, and generally weaken the US.