The United States has offered a $10 million reward for information about two people suspected of participating in Russian operations to influence the outcome of the American elections: Aleksandr Malkevich and Elena Khusseinova.
The decision to offer the reward was announced through the Rewards for Justice program, a U.S. government program that offers rewards for information on topics including “terrorism, foreign interference in U.S. elections, malicious cyber activities directed by foreign actors against the United States.”
The Moscow Times website describes Malkiewicz and Khusaynova as “the management of a troll factory.” It claims that Malkiewicz was supposed to have worked on influence operations financed by Yevgeny Prigozhin, while Khusaynova was the chief accountant in the Lakhta project, which also belonged to Prigozhin.
An announcement of a $10 million reward for information about both wanted men was posted on the X portal.
Russian disinformation campaign
In April, Microsoft stated that Russia began a campaign of disinformation and social antagonism among Americans. Accounts linked to Russia began disseminating controversial and conflict-prone content aimed at voters there, particularly criticizing support for the anti-Russian aggression Ukraine.
In July, US intelligence officials warned that Russia was trying to influence the outcome of the upcoming elections presidential in USArunning a campaign to discredit the current head of state Joe Biden and helping his rival Donald Trump.
Since the inception of the State Department's Rewards for Justice program in 1984, the U.S. government has paid more than $250 million to more than 125 individuals who provided information that helped bring perpetrators to justice or prevented attacks.
Main image source: RFJ USA