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US sanctions several RT employees for electoral interference in the 2024 presidential elections

US sanctions several RT employees for electoral interference in the 2024 presidential elections

September 4 () –

The United States government announced on Wednesday sanctions against several employees of the Russia Today (RT) network, including its editor-in-chief, Margarita Simonian, and two organizations accused of carrying out disinformation campaigns, for trying to influence the 2024 presidential elections.

The Treasury Department has accused RT of “covertly” recruiting American influencers without its knowledge to carry out its actions during the election campaign, in order to influence audiences in the country.

“Russian state-sponsored actors have long used a variety of tools, including artificial intelligence and disinformation, to undermine confidence in U.S. electoral processes and institutions,” the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) said.

Among the ten people named is Simonian, who is accused of being “a central figure in the Russian government’s efforts to influence the government in a spurious manner” and responsible for enabling the operations of the shell company that RT used to try to persuade US voters.

The deputy editors-in-chief Elizaveta Brodskaia and Anton Anisimov were also sanctioned. The designated companies are ANO Dialog and its subsidiary ANO Dialog Regions, as well as its director Vladimir Tabak, who are accused of disinformation and manipulation campaigns.

The designated individuals and entities now have all their property, interests or holdings, regardless of degree, in US territory blocked and any financial institution or company is likewise prohibited from any type of activity or transaction with them.

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