Government

State Department offers $10 million reward for info on Russian propaganda outlet

The outlet runs social media channels that have been vocal on politically divisive topics in the U.S.

October 21, 2024

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Russian soldiers stand on Red Square in central Moscow on September 29, 2022, as the square is sealed prior to a ceremony of the incorporation of the new territories into Russia. (Photo by ALEXANDER NEMENOV/AFP via Getty Images)

The U.S. government has announced a reward of up to $10 million for information about the Russian media organization Rybar and its employees, amid allegations it’s involved in spreading propaganda aimed at influencing the upcoming U.S. presidential election.

According to the State Department’s Rewards for Justice Program, Rybar has been accused of using its extensive social media reach, with over 1.3 million followers on various channels, to promote pro-Russian and anti-Western sentiments. The organization has allegedly established several contentious online platforms, which have sought to create social and political divisions within the United States. These efforts are reportedly linked to broader Russian strategies to impact U.S. electoral processes.

Rybar is said to have received financial backing from a state-linked Russian defense entity that is currently under U.S. sanctions. The media outlet, which was founded by deceased Russian mogul Yevgeniy Prigozhin, ran online channels inciting discord on issues such as immigration and political alignment, particularly in connection with ongoing conflicts.

Rybar controls social media channels like #HOLDTHELINE and #STANDWTHTEXAS to push Russian political interests in the United States. Earlier this year, Rybar set up a channel called “TEXASvsUSA” on X (formerly Twitter), which spewed rhetoric tied to illegal immigration.

The State Department called out nine people, including Mikhail Zvinchuk, who runs the blog.

https://twitter.com/RFJ_USA/status/1846566996458000702

This initiative is part of a larger crackdown on foreign election interference, reflecting growing concerns over the integrity of democratic processes in the face of international threats.
The announcement comes as the State Department has been heavily focused on calling out Russian propaganda. The State Department sanctioned RT and related media companies in September, accusing the Russian state-funded news outlet of operating a crowdfunding website that funneled weapons and equipment to Russian soldiers fighting in Ukraine.