US offers up to US$10 million for data on Russia's Rybar project
The United States has announced a reward of up to US$10 million for information about Russia's project called Rybar.
Source: a statement on the website of the US State Department's Rewards for Justice programme, as reported by European Pravda
Details: The website reported that Rybar is a Russian media organisation that was formerly funded by Yevgeny Prigozhin, the late owner of the Wagner Private Military Company (PMC).
The US State Department reports that Rybar now receives funding from Rostec, a Russian defence industry organisation under US sanctions.
"Rybar relies on the connections and funding from Rostec to bolster Russia’s military capabilities and advance pro-Russian and anti-Western narratives," the statement said.
The State Department stated that individuals linked to the project were engaged in foreign interference in the US election.
In particular, ahead of the 2024 US presidential election, Rybar launched the TEXASvsUSA channel on the social media platform X (Twitter), which focuses on the politically and socially sensitive issue of illegal migration across the Texas border.
"Through TEXASvsUSA, Rybar has sought to sow discord, promote social division, stoke partisan and racial discord, and encourage hate and violence in the United States," the statement stressed.
Rybar also operates the propaganda media channels #HOLDTHELINE and #STANDWTHTEXAS, which advocate for Russia's political interests in the United States.
The programme's website also lists the names of several individuals involved in operations to influence the US election.
Background:
- Recently, the US Office of the Director of National Intelligence published a report stating that Russia continues to carry out influence campaigns designed to boost former US President Donald Trump's chances of winning the presidential election, while Iran is interested in Kamala Harris' victory.
- In September, US intelligence agencies reported that Russia was generating a growing volume of content using artificial intelligence to influence the US presidential election.
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