The U.S. State Department has announced a reward of up to $10 million for information leading to any foreign person or entity engaging in election interference, just weeks before Americans choose their next president. The announcement specifically targeted Russian media organization Rybar LLC, accusing it of using social media to sow discord, promote social division, stoke partisan and racial discord, and encourage hate and violence in the United States. Rybar had allegedly established a channel on the X platform called “TexasvsUSA” to exploit the issue of undocumented immigrants crossing the Texas border, as well as used social media channels #HOLDTHELINE and #STANDWTHTEXAS to spread pro-Russian propaganda.
The State Department also stated that Rybar receives funding from Russian defense industrial organization Rostec, which has been subjected to sanctions by the U.S. Treasury Department. The department claimed that Rybar relies on connections and funding from Rostec to strengthen Russia’s military capabilities and promote pro-Russian and anti-Western narratives. Those with relevant information, particularly about nine named individuals involved in Rybar’s activities during the U.S. election, were encouraged to contact the Rewards for Justice tipline. Rybar operates a popular channel on the Telegram platform that is followed by Russian pro-Ukraine-war hardliners and is co-founded by Mikhail Zvinchuk, a former member of Russia’s Spetsnaz special forces and Defense Ministry employee under EU sanctions since June 2023.
In April 2024, Zvinchuk announced the opening of a “Rybar Media School” in Serbia, stating that they have studied the West’s approaches to conducting information warfare and now is the time to apply that knowledge in teaching associates. He emphasized that this was just the beginning of the propaganda strategy in Western countries. The State Department’s Rewards for Justice program’s announcement highlighted Rybar’s activities in spreading pro-Russian propaganda and influencing the U.S. election through social media channels, particularly targeting the issue of undocumented immigrants at the Texas border. Rybar’s connections to Rostec, a sanctioned Russian defense industrial organization, were also detailed in the announcement.
The State Department’s call for information on individuals involved in Rybar’s operations during the U.S. election, as well as the offering of a significant financial reward for tips, underscores the seriousness with which the U.S. government is taking potential foreign interference in its electoral processes. The activities of Rybar, as outlined in the announcement, point to a concerted effort to exploit divisive issues within the United States and spread pro-Russian narratives, potentially undermining the integrity of the electoral process. The involvement of individuals linked to Rybar, particularly Mikhail Zvinchuk, who has a background in Russian special forces and has been under EU sanctions, further complicates the situation.
The establishment of the “Rybar Media School” in Serbia, with the aim of teaching associates the right approaches to conducting information warfare in Western countries, highlights the ongoing efforts to propagate propaganda and influence public opinion beyond Russia’s borders. The State Department’s focus on Rybar’s activities and connections to Rostec, coupled with the significant reward offered for information, signals a proactive stance against potential election interference and disinformation campaigns targeting the United States. The evolving landscape of information warfare and propaganda in the digital age presents new challenges for safeguarding democratic processes, and initiatives like the Rewards for Justice program seek to address these threats effectively.
