Angola jails two Russians following deadly unrest

The demonstrations between July 28 and 30, were triggered by a strike called by taxi drivers to protest against rising fuel prices in the oil-rich nation where millions live in poverty.

The violence left 22 people dead, according to Angola's Interior Ministry, but police at the time put the death toll at 30, with 200 people injured and 1,200 arrested.

It was some of the worst unrest in several years in the Portuguese-speaking southern African country, which has been governed by the MPLA party since 1975.

Prosecutors accused the pair of planning activities aimed at destabilising Angola by "preparing a coup d'etat" and trying to "take control of national economic assets".

The two -- Lev Lakshtanov and Igor Ratchin, who were sentenced to eight and 11 years respectively -- denied any links to terrorist organisations.

They said they were in the country for cultural and commercial activities.

Prosecutors told the court that the pair held meetings with politicians from both the ruling party and the opposition.

They added that the Russians intended to provide financial support to the opposition party UNITA ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The Russian Embassy did not immediately respond to requests for comment from AFP.

An investigation by All Eyes on Wagner and French broadcaster RFI said Angolan authorities believed the two Russians were linked to Africa Politology, a "murky Russian network that combines consultants and influence-operation operators, lobbyists and lawyers, and country experts providing political consulting in the service of Russian influence".

Also charged was Carlos Tome, an Angolan sports journalist who received a two-year suspended prison sentence, while Francisco de Oliveira, secretary-general of the youth wing of the main opposition party UNITA, was acquitted.

David Guz, who represented the Angolans who were prosecuted said in a statement "the prosecution determined that it could not accept the court's decision and filed an appeal with suspensive effect at that very moment".