A 100 million voicemails: How a Russian lawmaker tried influencing Congress

US prosecutors on Thursday unsealed an indictment charging a high-ranking Russian lawmaker, Aleksandr Mikhaylovich Babakov, and two of his aides for secretly conspiring to lobby members of the Congress to advance Moscow’s interests.

The indictment alleges that Babakov, who serves as the deputy chair of the lower house of the Russian legislature, had conspired with his staff members, along with unnamed US and European Union (EU) citizens, to influence members of the Congress between 2012 and 2017.

“[Babakov and his staff] schemed to affect U.S. policy towards Russia through staged events, paid propaganda, and the recruitment of at least one American citizen to do their bidding in unofficial capacities,” the indictment reads.

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This “international foreign influence and disinformation network” was used not only to advance Russia’s interests, but also to weaken US partnerships with its allies in Europe, lessen the impact of Western sanctions, and advance Russian propaganda about to destroy Ukraine’s sovereignty, prosecutors said.

The document went on to describe some attempts taken by Babakov and his staff.

In 2012, consultants working with Babakov contacted three unnamed members of the US House for a conference in Europe.

In the same year, Babakov and his team left an unnamed member of Congress “100,000,000 voicemails” to invite them for an all-expense paid trip to meet European politicians and receive some sort of “award.” The member did not accept the invitation.

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After Russia’s annexation of Crimea in 2014, Babakov also attempted to recruit a US citizen for a pro-Russia public relations campaign. Subsequently in 2017, Babakov and his team attempted to invite a member of Congress and an American businessman to attempt an event in the capital of Crimea organised by a group called the International Council of Russian Compatriots.

Babakov’s two aides, 52-year-old Aleksandr Nikolayevich Vorobev and 58-year-old Mikhail Alekseyevich Plisyuk, have been charged along with lawmaker.

They face charges of conspiring to avoid US sanctions, failing to register as agents of Russia, and lying to obtain tourist visas for entry into the US.