Angola sentences two Russians after unrest case

An Angolan court has sentenced two Russian nationals to prison terms of eight and 11 years for terrorism and espionage after protests last year that turned into riots and looting, a lawyer representing some of the accused said on Wednesday.

The demonstrations took place between July 28 and 30 after taxi drivers called a strike over rising fuel prices. Angola's Interior Ministry said 22 people were killed. Police at the time put the toll at 30 dead, with 200 people injured and 1,200 arrested.

The unrest was described as among the worst in several years in Angola, a Portuguese-speaking southern African country governed by the MPLA party since 1975.

Prosecutors accused the two Russians, Lev Lakshtanov and Igor Ratchin, of planning activities intended to destabilise Angola by preparing a coup and trying to take control of national economic assets. Lakshtanov was sentenced to eight years and Ratchin to 11 years.

Both men denied having links to terrorist organisations. They said they were in Angola for cultural and commercial activities.

Prosecutors told the court that the pair had met politicians from both the ruling party and the opposition. They also said the Russians intended to provide financial support to the opposition party UNITA before the 2027 general elections.

The Russian Embassy did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

An investigation by All Eyes on Wagner and French broadcaster RFI said Angolan authorities believed the two Russians were linked to Africa Politology, described in the investigation as a Russian network involving consultants, influence-operation operators, lobbyists, lawyers and country experts providing political consulting in support of Russian influence.

Carlos Tome, an Angolan sports journalist, was also charged and received a two-year suspended prison sentence. Francisco de Oliveira, secretary-general of the youth wing of the main opposition party UNITA, was acquitted.

David Guz, who represented the Angolans who were prosecuted, said prosecutors did not accept the court's decision and filed an appeal with suspensive effect immediately.