Angola Convicts Two Russians Linked to SVR's Africa Influence Network

An Angolan court sentenced political consultant Igor Ratchin to 11 years and translator Lev Lakshtanov to 8 years for terrorism and spying. Prosecutors tied both to Africa Politology, a Russian influence network moved under SVR (Russia's foreign intelligence service) control after Wagner chief Prigozhin's 2023 death. First known African prosecution of individuals linked to that network. Both denied the charges.