Charges Filed Against US and Russian Nationals in Illegal Agent Conspiracy

Four US citizens and three Russian nationals have been charged with conspiring to use US citizens as illegal agents of the Russian government in a multi-year foreign malign influence campaign in the United States. The Russian defendants allegedly recruited, funded, and directed US political groups to act as unregistered illegal agents of the Russian government and sow discord and spread pro-Russian propaganda. The indicted intelligence officers participated in covertly funding and directing candidates for local office within the United States. Additionally, a separate case charges Russian national Natalia Burlinova with conspiring with an FSB officer to act as an illegal agent of Russia in the United States.