Did Russia Covertly Fund an American Media Company? What We Know
By Movieguide® Contributor
The Department of Justice has announced charges against two Russian state media employees for funding an unnamed U.S. media company.
The case names two defendants — Kostiantyn Kalashnikov and Elena Afanasyeva — who are both charged with conspiracy to commit money laundering as well as violating the Foreign Agents Registration Act.
It’s alleged the pair funneled around $10 million to the media company. Kalashnikov and Afanasyeva are still at large.
The case does not name the company; instead, it is referred to as a “‘Tennessee-based online content creation company’ that publishes English-language videos and information on TikTok, YouTube, X (formerly Twitter) and other social media which they favor in furtherance of Russian interests,” per The Hollywood Reporter.
Other descriptors include that it was publicly launched in November 2023 and has posted around 2,000 videos that have earned over 16 million views on YouTube.
However, these were enough clues for some to put together who “Company-1” is.
“CNN has independently confirmed that ‘Company 1’ is Tenet Media, which is a platform for independent content creators,” the outlet reported. “It is self-described as a ‘network of heterodox commentators that focus on Western political and cultural issues,’ according to its website, which matches language contained in the newly unsealed indictment.”
It’s alleged that the Russian operation was set up to “fuel pro-Russian narratives.”
Some of Tenet Media’s personalities have responded to the allegations, claiming they were victims of the scheme and that all content in their videos was controlled by them.
In a since-deleted post on X, podcast host Tim Pool wrote, “Should these allegations prove true, I as well as the other personalities and commentators were deceived and are victims. I cannot speak for anyone else at the company as to what they do or to what they are instructed.”
Benny Johnson, whose YouTube channel boasts almost 2.4 million subscribers, also released a statement: “We are disturbed by the allegations in today’s indictment, which make clear that myself and other influencers were victims in this alleged scheme. My lawyers will handle anyone who states or suggests otherwise.”
Maria Zakharova, a spokeswoman for the Russian Foreign Ministry, responded to the DOJ’s case, calling it a “witch hunt” designed to scare Americans.
“There will be a response to the actions of the United States authorities which directly contradict their obligations in the areas of providing free access to information and media pluralism,” Zakharova said, per Reuters.
