The Department of Justice announced on Wednesday that charges have been filed against two Russian state media employees for allegedly funneling $10 million to an unnamed media company in the United States.
The criminal complaint names Kostiantyn Kalashnikov and Elena Afanasyeva as defendants, charging them with conspiracy to commit money laundering and violations of the Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA). Their scheme, valued at approximately $10 million, remains under investigation, and both defendants are currently at large.
While the media company involved was not explicitly named in the case, it is described as a “Tennessee-based online content creation company” that produces English-language videos on social media platforms like TikTok, YouTube, and X (formerly Twitter) in support of Russian interests. Identified only as “Company-1,” the organization was launched in November 2023 and has reportedly produced nearly 2,000 videos, which have garnered over 16 million views on YouTube.
This description aligns with Tennessee-based Tenet Media, a company known for funding videos by conservative influencers such as Dave Rubin, Tim Pool, and Benny Johnson. In recent months, the company’s shows have featured prominent figures like RNC co-chair Lara Trump, former Republican presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy, and U.S. Senate candidate Kari Lake.
Both Tim Pool and Benny Johnson responded to the DOJ allegations on social media, claiming they were “victims.” Pool referred to Russian President Vladimir Putin as a “scumbag,” while Johnson explained that he had been approached by a “media startup” about a year ago. “Our lawyers negotiated a standard, arms-length deal, which was later terminated,” Johnson wrote in his post.
Additionally, the DOJ’s announcement revealed that the government had seized 32 internet domains allegedly operated by the Kremlin. These websites, disguised as legitimate news outlets, were reportedly used to spread Russian propaganda and undermine global support for Ukraine.
“Covert attempts to sow division and trick Americans into unwittingly consuming foreign propaganda represent attacks on our democracy,” said FBI Director Christopher A. Wray. “Today’s actions show that as long as foreign adversaries like Russia continue hostile influence campaigns, they will face the FBI’s full force. We remain committed to exposing foreign adversaries like Russia and disrupting their efforts to meddle in our free and open society.”
