Russian charged over US midterm intrigue

A Russian woman has been charged with conspiring to interfere in the forthcoming November 6 US midterm elections in a Kremlinlinked operation.

It is the first criminal case brought by the US Justice Department against a foreigner trying to undermine the November 6 vote.

Elena Khusyaynova, 44, has been charged with conspiracy to defraud the US. According to the allegations she was in charge of finances for “Project Lakhta”, said to be the code name for an operation to “sow discord in the US political system”.

According to the complaint, the operation was funded by Yevgeny Viktorovich Prigozhin, a Russian oligarch close to Vladimir Putin. He is known as “Putin’s chef” as his company provides food to the Kremlin.

The operation spread misinformation on social media about US political issues including immigration, gun control, the Confederate flag, and protests by NFL players. It also allegedly used events, including the Las Vegas mass shooting and the far-right rally in Charlottesville, to spread discord.

Previous Russian meddling in the presidential elections is thought to have benefited Donald Trump’s campaign. The midterm elections are being seen as a referendum on Trump’s time in office and losses would restrict his legislative programme.

The case comes as US intelligence agencies announced they were concerned about efforts by Russia, China and Iran to influence US voters.