WASHINGTON _ A Russian woman has been charged by federal prosecutors for her alleged role as an accountant for the St. Petersburg-based Internet Research Agency, which U.S. officials said has continued to spread disinformation on social media to disrupt political campaigns since the 2016 elections.
The charge of conspiracy against the United States, announced Friday afternoon by the Justice Department, represents the first case involving next month's midterm elections.
Elena Alekseevna Khusyaynova, 44, was allegedly the chief accountant for "Project Lakhta," the disinformation effort spearheaded by the Internet Research Agency, which has been described as a "troll farm" for its prolific output of inflammatory and often false social media posts. The organization is funded by Yevgeniy Viktorovich, an oligarch with close ties to Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Viktorovich was previously charged by special counsel Robert S. Mueller III, who is leading the investigation into Moscow's meddling in the last presidential campaign. However, the case against Khusyaynova is being handled by the Justice Department's National Security Division.
"Unlawful foreign interference with these debates debases their democratic integrity, and we will make every effort to disrupt it and hold those involved accountable," said Assistant Attorney General John C. Demers in a statement.
Khusyaynova has not been arrested and, as a Russian national living in St. Petersburg, is unlikely to be extradited to stand trial.
