A court in the Angolan capital of Luanda in central Africa has jailed two Russian men on charges ranging from espionage to terrorism on Tuesday evening local time. The BBC identified the two as political consultant Igor Ratchin and translator Lev Lakshtanov, who were jailed for 11 and 8 years respectively.JOIN US ON TELEGRAMFollow our coverage of the war on the @Kyivpost_official. Lakshtanov said he had lived in Angola for over four decades, while Ratchin claimed to be a businessman who came to Angola to establish a Russian cultural center, according to local outlet Novo Jornal, citing the two’s previous comments in court. The two denied the charges and claimed they were merely seeking to establish a Russian cultural center. Angola, a former Portuguese colony, gained independence in 1975. Its ruling party, the People’s Movement for the Liberation of Angola (MPLA), received military aid from the Soviet Union and direct military support from Cuba during the country’s civil war. Following the end of the Cold War, the MPLA abandoned Marxist-Leninist ideology and shifted toward closer ties with the West. Guilty on 4 charges The two’s lawyer said they were found guilty of criminal association, espionage, terrorism and illegal retention of currency – which amounted to 4 out of the 11 charges brought against them. The two were arrested in August 2025 for inciting protests, attempting to influence local elections, and disinformation, according to the BBC.