Argentinian intelligence uncovers Russian influence and disinformation network

Argentina’s top intelligence body has accused a group of five Russian citizens of spreading disinformation as part of a foreign influence operation in the country, Argentinian daily La Nación reported on Wednesday.

The individuals, all of whom are resident in Argentina, are accused by the Secretariat of Intelligence, the country’s chief intelligence agency, of attempting to “form a group of people loyal to Russian interests to carry out disinformation and influence campaigns against the Argentinian state”, presidential spokesman Manuel Adorni announced at a press conference on Wednesday.

Argentinian authorities believe that the individuals, directed by Lev Andriashvili and his wife, Irina Yakovenko, were part of an organisation called La Compañía, tied to the Yevgeny Prigozhin-linked “troll factory”, which has reportedly administered disinformation campaigns globally since 2014.

According to Adorni, Andriashvili oversaw financing and efforts to build ties with local collaborators, while Yakovenko managed content creation for social media, sought to influence local NGOs, organised focus groups with Russian citizens, and collected political intelligence. Adorni did not specify the current whereabouts of the suspects or whether they are in custody.

Responding to the announcement, the Russian Embassy in Buenos Aires noted on Wednesday that Andriashvili and Yakovenko are not registered as residing in Argentina, and said that it had sent a note asking the Argentinian government to clarify their legal status.

“Unfortunately, this is not the first round of spy mania associated with attempts by our country’s opponents to drive a wedge into Russian-Argentinian relations,” the embassy said.

The case has drawn a parallel to those of Russian spies Artyom Dultsev and Anna Dultseva, who lived in Argentina for many years under deep cover before being arrested in Slovenia last July. The couple returned to Russia with their children in August after being exchanged in the largest prisoner swap between Western countries and Russia since the Cold War.

Since 2022, some 20,000 Russians have arrived in Argentina, including families that arrived in the country to give birth in order to receive a residence permit. According to Reuters, Argentina is the most [popular](https://www.reuters.com/world/russian-war-exiles-bring-banyas-blinis-buenos-aires-2024-03-16/#:~:text=BUENOS%20AIRES%2C%20March%2016%20(Reuters,adopted%20city%20of%20Buenos%20Aires.) destination for Russian emigrants in Latin America, with Russian-run cafés and beauty salons now a common sight in the capital, Buenos Aires.