An Angolan court on Tuesday found the two men guilty of terrorism and espionage, charging that they had planned a coup and worked to stoke last summer’s deadly mass protests over fuel price hikes. Prosecutors said the men were affiliated with Russian mercenary groups that have been active across the continent advancing the Kremlin’s commercial and strategic interests. The two men say they were merely in Angola to pursue cultural and business pursuits and that they will appeal the convictions.
Hard Numbers
Angola sentences Russian operatives
By Alex KlimentJuly 24, 2026
Alex Kliment
Alex wears a few different caps and tips them all regularly. He writes for the GZERO Daily, works as a field correspondent for GZERO's nationally syndicated TV show GZERO WORLD WITH IAN BREMMER, and writes/directs/voices GZERO's award-winning puppet satire show PUPPET REGIME. Prior to joining GZERO, Alex worked as an analyst covering Russia and broader Emerging Markets for Eurasia Group. He has also written for the Financial Times from Washington, DC, and Sao Paulo Brazil. In his spare time, he makes short films and composes scores for long ones. He studied history and Slavic literature at Columbia and has a Master's from Johns Hopkins SAIS. He's a native New Yorker, a long-suffering Mets fan, and owns too many bicycles.
