This article was originally published by Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty and is reprinted with permission.
The United States is offering a reward of up to $10 million for information on Russian interference in U.S. elections.
The U.S. State Department announced the reward on July 28, saying it seeks information leading to the identification or location of any foreign person who knowingly engaged or is engaging in interference in U.S. elections, but it specifically mentions Russia’s Internet Research Agency (IRA), Kremlin-connected businessman Yevgeniy Prigozhin and Russian entities and associates linked to him.
The United States previously identified the St. Petersburg-based IRA as having engaged in political and electoral interference operations and previously sanctioned Prigozhin for the interference.
“Beginning as early as 2014, IRA began operations to interfere with the U.S. political system, including the 2016 U.S. presidential election, with a strategic goal to sow discord,” the department said in a statement.
Donald Trump narrowly defeated former U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in the 2016 election.
Prigozhin is a Russian national who provided funding to IRA through the companies Concord Management and Consulting and Concord Catering, companies that he controlled.
“Concord sent funds, recommended personnel, and oversaw IRA’s activities through reporting and interaction with IRA’s management,” the State Department said.
Beyond Prigozhin, the department is seeking information on several other people listed as having worked in various capacities to carry out IRA’s interference operations targeting the United States.
They are accused of conspiring to defraud the United States by obstructing the functions of the government for the purpose of interfering with the U.S. electoral processes, including the presidential election of 2016, the department said.
The department said the reward offer is being made through the Rewards for Justice program and is part of the U.S. government’s wider efforts to ensure the security and integrity of U.S. elections and protect against foreign interference.