A seismic ruling has echoed from Luanda, where two Russian men jailed on grave charges of terrorism and espionage have received substantial prison sentences. Lev Lakshtanov and Igor Ratchin were found guilty by an Angolan court, accused of masterminding a coup and instigating violent demonstrations that rocked the southern African nation last year.
Lakshtanov, appearing alongside Ratchin at an August 2025 hearing, received an eight-year sentence, while his counterpart was handed a formidable 11 years behind bars. Both men vehemently denied the accusations, asserting their presence in Angola was purely for cultural and business engagements.
The convictions stem from a tumultuous period between 28-30 July 2025, when a minibus taxi strike, fueled by soaring prices, escalated into widespread riots and looting. Official figures tragically recorded 22 fatalities and over 1,600 arrests. Critics accused Angola’s security forces of deploying live ammunition against protestors, though the government defended its actions as a “progressive” and justified use of force. Human Rights Watch had previously highlighted “excessive force” by Angolan police during a peaceful fuel price protest on 12 July 2025, detailing concerns about police tactics.
Prosecutors painted a chilling picture: Lakshtanov and Ratchin allegedly sought to manipulate Angola’s upcoming presidential elections. Their alleged tactics included channeling funds to UNITA, Angola’s primary opposition party, or attempting to orchestrate a leadership change within the ruling MPLA, a party that has governed since independence from Portugal in 1975.
Furthermore, the prosecution asserted a connection between the men and Africa Politology, a Russian disinformation and propaganda network. This network, reportedly an offshoot of the notorious Wagner mercenary group, was allegedly absorbed by Russia’s Foreign Intelligence Service (SVR) following the death of Wagner chief Yevgeny Prigozhin in 2023. Wagner itself has undergone a rebranding, emerging as Africa Corps and integrated into Russia’s broader military apparatus.
The Impact: Why Russian Men Jailed?
Angola’s economy relies heavily on oil, and its historical ties with Russia run deep. During the Cold War, the Soviet Union, alongside Cuba, supported the MPLA during Angola’s civil war (1975-2002), countering US and apartheid South African backing for UNITA. However, President João Lourenço has worked diligently to bolster relations with the United States and European nations since assuming power in 2017.
The last decade has witnessed a marked resurgence of Russia’s presence across Africa. Wagner, and its successor Africa Corps, have become crucial security providers for leaders like Faustin-Archange Touadéra of the Central African Republic since 2017. Their influence extends to Mali, supporting the military junta since 2021, and backing regimes in neighboring Niger and Burkina Faso. A US Congress report even cites Russian troop deployments in Equatorial Guinea, Libya, and Sudan since 2023. Madagascar’s President Michael Randrianirina has also deepened ties with Moscow, installing Russians in his presidential guard and launching a weekly national TV program on Madagascar-Russia relations.
The severe sentences handed down to the Russian men jailed reflect Angola’s firm stance against perceived foreign interference and underscore the escalating geopolitical competition on the continent. These convictions send a potent message, particularly as Moscow seeks to expand its influence across Africa.
Two Angolan citizens faced trial alongside the accused Russians. Sports journalist Carlos Tomé received a two-year suspended sentence, while Francisco de Oliveira, secretary-general of UNITA’s youth wing, was acquitted. Prosecutors have lodged appeals against these lighter sentences, according to the Portuguese news agency Lusa. Lakshtanov and Ratchin have also appealed their convictions, but they will remain in detention as the legal process unfolds. The Russian embassy in Angola has yet to issue a statement regarding the fate of these Russian men jailed.
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