US accuses Russia of election interference and imposes sanctions
Photo: The United States imposed sanctions on Russia (Getty Images)
The United States has imposed new sanctions against Russia. These sanctions target 10 individuals and two entities, according to the US Department of the Treasury.
The United States suspects these individuals and entities of malign influence efforts by Moscow aimed at the 2024 US presidential election. The US Department of the Treasury noted that Russian state media uses various tools, such as "generative artificial intelligence (AI) deep fakes and disinformation".
Who's on the sanctions list
Margarita Simonyan: Editor-in-Chief of RT and a central figure in the Russian government's malign influence efforts. She facilitated the activities of a front company under RT's cover.
Elizaveta Yuryevna Brodskaia: Deputy Editor-in-Chief of RT, who reported to Russian President Vladimir Putin and other government officials.
Anton Sergeyvich Anisimov: Deputy Editor-in-Chief of RT, who carries out activities on behalf of the Russian Federal Security Service (FSB).
Andrey Vladimirovich Kiyashko: Deputy Director of the RT English-Language Information Broadcasting, responsible for informing Russian officials and overseeing RT's operations.
Konstantin Kalashnikov: Digital Media Projects Manager, who worked with Kiyashko in early 2022. In mid-2023, Brodskaia and Kiyashko conducted a major influence operation for RT on American social media, aiming to conceal RT’s connection to content designed to influence online audiences.
Elena Mikhaylovna Afanasyeva: An employee of RT's Digital Media Projects Department reporting to Kalashnikov. Since early 2024, Afanasyeva has covertly interacted with prominent American social media influencers under a fake name, purporting to be an employee of an American company to hide RT’s and the Russian government's involvement.
Aleksey Alekseyevich Garashchenko: Head of RaHDit and a former FSB officer when he began leading the group. Garashchenko directly interacts with representatives of Russian intelligence and security services, staff of the Russian Presidential Administration, and RT employees.
Anastasia Igorevna Yermoshkina: An affiliate of Garashchenko.
Aleksandr Vitalyevich Nezhentsev: Works with Garashchenko and is an administrator and developer of cyber tools used by the FSB. Nezhentsev also leads a team developing new tools that can be used for surveillance of information data files.
Vladimir Grigoryevich Tabak: Director General of ANO Dialog and Dialog Regions. He previously held several positions in the Russian Presidential Administration. In the fall of 2022, Tabak was supposed to attend a meeting with high-ranking Russian officials. During the meeting, they discussed the alleged success of Doppelgänger's activities and provided feedback and recommendations for future projects.
Background
Earlier today, media reports indicated that the Biden administration plans to accuse Russia of ongoing attempts to influence US elections. The Kremlin is allegedly using media and online platforms for this purpose.
