US State Department offers $10 million for information on Russian Telegram channel
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The U.S. government will provide $10 million for information about employees of the Russian propaganda Telegram channel Rybar. The US suspects that it may be involved in attempts to influence the US election, according to the website of the US State Department's Reward for Justice program.
In particular, it is about information that will help identify administrators and other employees of the channel.
In addition to the suspicion of influencing the election, the website says that the Russian Telegram channel seeks to “strengthen Russia's military capabilities and promote pro-Russian and anti-Western narratives.”
Rewards for Justice also writes that Rybar was linked to the late head of the Wagner PMC, Yevgeny Prigozhin. It is alleged that he financed the channel. Currently, the funding comes from the Russian defense industry company Rostec, which was sanctioned by the US Treasury Department in June 2022.
In addition, Rybar promotes the interests of the Russian government in the United States through the hashtags #HOLDTHELINE and #STANDWTHTEXAS. Also, on the eve of the 2024 US presidential election, an account called “TEXASvsUSA” was created on social network X. It aims to incite social tension, division between parties and racial hatred, as well as to encourage hatred and violence in the United States.
In turn, Rybar's owner, Mykhailo Zvinchuk, recorded a video message in which he rejected the accusations that his channel was being used to interfere in the US elections. He also provided his Moscow address, saying that he was waiting for the promised reward.
In May 2022, the United States offered a $15 million reward for information about the Conti extortionist group based in Russia, which is accused of cyberattacks around the world.
