Two Russians are due to go on trial in Angola accused of stirring up anti-government protests, conducting a campaign of disinformation, and attempting to interfere in next year's presidential election. Arrested last August, political consultant Igor Ratchin and translator Lev Lakshtanov are facing 11 charges, including terrorism, espionage, and influence peddling. The BBC has obtained a copy of the indictment that includes charges relating to an alleged operation aimed at changing the political course of Angola. The Russians' lawyers challenge the indictment on the grounds that it lacks 'concrete and objective facts.' According to the prosecution, the Russians acted on behalf of Africa Politology, a shadowy network of operatives and intelligence officers in Africa that emerged from the now-defunct Wagner Group, whose founder Yevgeny Prigozhin died in 2023 in a plane crash. Political operatives linked to Wagner have been active across Africa for more than a decade, particularly in the Central African Republic, Mali, and Madagascar. The Russians' defense team states they are not connected to Africa Politology or the Wagner Group, insisting they were cooperating to create a cultural 'Russian House' in Luanda. Angola, a crucial oil and diamond producer, is of strategic interest to Moscow, although relations have cooled since the Cold War. The trial also ties into broader regional narratives as Angola's government has been moving towards the West amidst ongoing political unrest. Many Angolan activists and journalists argue the allegations against the Russians may serve as scapegoats for a government grappling with public demonstrations sparked by local discontent over economic conditions.