Washington: Russia’s intrusion in the US presidential election to be held in November has shaken the White House. The US alleges that Russia is making every effort to disturb the presidential election. Therefore, the Biden administration has imposed a number of sanctions on Russia’s efforts to manipulate American opinion ahead of the election. The US Treasury Department said that action is being taken to protect and safeguard US election institutions and processes in view of Moscow’s efforts to influence the 2024 presidential election in the United States.
The US is accusing Russia of running a propaganda campaign regarding the presidential election. Let us tell you that the presidential election is to be held in the US on November 5. In this election, Democratic Party candidate Kamala Harris will face Republican Party’s Donald Trump. But Russia is accused of disturbing this election. US intelligence agencies have previously accused Russia of disseminating misinformation to interfere in the election. However, the expected announcement from Attorney General Merrick Garland indicates America’s deep concern. A Justice Department spokesman declined to comment in this regard.
Announcement of ban on Russia
The US State Justice and Treasury departments on Wednesday jointly announced sanctions with criminal charges on Russia for what the Biden administration is calling a Russian government-sponsored effort to manipulate American public opinion ahead of the November election. New York Attorney General Merrick Garland announced the indictment, charging two employees of Russian-backed media network RT with conspiring to commit money laundering and violating the Foreign Agents Registration Act. He said, “The American people deserve to know when a foreign power is attempting to exploit our country’s free exchange of ideas for its own propaganda.”
US said Russia wanted to promote Trump and harm others
The US indictment said the names of political parties and candidates were redacted, making it clear through the documents that the Russians tried to promote former Republican President Donald Trump and harm Democratic efforts. Biden was likely to be the Democratic candidate at the time. Garland accused Konstantin Kalashnikov and Elena Afanasyeva of implementing a nearly $10 million scheme to hire a Tennessee-based company to publish and disseminate pro-Russian content.
That company then contracted with influencers on U.S.-based social media to share the content on its platform. “This information was often consistent with Russia’s interest in exacerbating U.S. domestic divisions to undermine core Russian interests, particularly U.S. opposition to the ongoing war in Ukraine,” the attorney general said. The indictment says Kalashnikov introduced himself as RT’s “deputy head of the digital media projects department” and Afanasyeva presented herself on social media as “a producer at RT, dealing with foreign affairs and news.”
