An Angolan court has sentenced two Russian nationals to prison terms for terrorism and espionage related to alleged plots to destabilize the country. Lev Lakshtanov was handed an eight-year sentence, while Igor Ratchin received 11 years. Both men denied the charges, maintaining that they were in Angola for cultural and business reasons.
The convictions stem from events surrounding a wave of unrest in late July 2025, following a minibus taxi strike triggered by rising fuel prices. The strike escalated into widespread riots and looting between July 28 and 30, resulting in 22 deaths and the arrest of more than 1,600 individuals, according to official statistics. Human Rights Watch criticized Angolan security forces for excessive force during earlier protests, noting the use of rubber bullets and tear gas against demonstrators on July 12, 2025. The government, however, defended its deployment of force as measured and necessary.
Prosecutors accused Lakshtanov and Ratchin of attempting to influence Angola’s presidential election scheduled for 2026. Allegations included plans to finance the National Union for the Total Independence of Angola (Unita), the country’s main opposition party, or to orchestrate a leadership change within the ruling Popular Movement for the Liberation of Angola (MPLA), which has governed since independence in 1975.
Two Angolan nationals were also tried alongside the Russians. Carlos Tomé, a sports journalist, received a two-year suspended sentence, while Francisco de Oliveira, secretary-general of Unita’s youth wing, was acquitted.
Angola’s historical ties with Russia date back to the Cold War era, when the Soviet Union and Cuba backed the MPLA during the country’s protracted civil war from 1975 to 2002. Since 2017, under President João Lourenço, Angola has sought to strengthen relations with the United States and European countries, even as Russia has expanded its influence across Africa in recent years.
Russian private military companies have become active on the continent, with Wagner Group and its successor entities, such as Africa Corps, providing security support to regimes in several countries. These include the Central African Republic, Mali, Niger, Burkina Faso, Equatorial Guinea, Libya, and Sudan. In October 2025, Madagascar’s president, Michael Randrianirina, strengthened ties with Russia following his ascent to power in a coup.
Angolan prosecutors further linked the two Russians to Africa Politology, reportedly a disinformation and propaganda network emerging from the Wagner Group and now under control of Russia’s Foreign Intelligence Service (SVR) after the death of Wagner’s leader Yevgeny Prigozhin in 2023. Wagner was subsequently rebranded as Africa Corps and integrated into Russia’s military apparatus.
The court rulings highlight ongoing concerns over foreign interference and security challenges in Angola ahead of the upcoming election. Officials have emphasized the government’s commitment to safeguarding stability amid the broader geopolitical contest in Africa.