US intelligence and law enforcement agencies are investigating what appears to a furtive attempt by Russia to smear the presidential election and US politics in general, by sowing seeds of distrust in US political institutions and spreading disinformation. The Russian operation is being led from Moscow by Yevgeny Prigozhin, an oligarch who has been described as Putin’s “personal chef” because he controls much of Russia’s food supply. The main themes seem to be orchestrated rather high up in the hierarchy of the Russian state, and then there are individual endeavors by people to exploit specific themes. Officials are concerned about the Russian's government's aim of providing propaganda material to attack Western democracy, especially in countries of the former Soviet Union.
US intelligence and law enforcement agencies are investigating what appears to a furtive attempt by Russia to smear the presidential election and US politics in general, by sowing seeds of distrust in US political institutions and spreading disinformation. The Russian operation is being led from Moscow by Yevgeny Prigozhin, an oligarch who has been described as Putin’s “personal chef” because he controls much of Russia’s food supply. Officials are concerned about the Russian's government's aim of providing propaganda material to attack Western democracy, especially in countries of the former Soviet Union.