These are the Russian spies that SIDE caught in Argentina

The State Intelligence Secretariat (SIDE), a key agency in the protection of national sovereignty, has revealed an investigation exposing the presence of a spy network linked to Russia's geopolitical interests in Argentine territory. This group consists of Russian residents, in collaboration with local citizens, who carried out disinformation tasks and influence recruitment in favor of the Kremlin.

According to official sources, agents identified the operation of an entity called "La Compañía," with direct connections to the "Lakhta Project", an international interference program led by Russian oligarch Yevgeniy Prigozhin, who died in August 2023. This project had been the subject of international investigations due to its involvement in electoral manipulation campaigns and psychological operations on a global scale.

A leader based in Argentina

The structure in Argentina was headed by Lev Konstantinovich Andriashvili, a Russian citizen residing in the country, who, together with his wife Irina Iakovenko, also Russian and living in Argentina, coordinated local operations. Both were responsible for receiving direct funding from Moscow and promoting connections with Argentine individuals and organizations aligned with the cause.

"La Compañía's objective is to form a group of people loyal to Russia's interests", stated presidential spokesperson Manuel Adorni. The purpose was clear: to carry out disinformation and influence campaigns, affecting the country's institutional stability.

Covert tactics and operations on social networks

Among the detected maneuvers, the following stand out:

• The creation and viralization of political content on social networks with false or manipulated narratives.
• The infiltration of civil organizations, foundations, and local NGOs for strategic purposes.
• The organization of focus groups with Argentine citizens to collect sensitive information.
• The gathering of political data intended to feed foreign intelligence operations.

SIDE officials stated that these activities not only undermine national sovereignty, but also expose Argentine society to external influences carefully designed to alter public debate and the democratic process.

Firmness of the Argentine State

In response to this situation, government spokespersons reaffirmed that "Argentina will not be subjected to the influence of any other nation". They also emphasized that "the security of Argentines is not a secondary issue," reaffirming the national administration's commitment to protecting internal order and defending against foreign interference.

The investigation is ongoing and it is not ruled out that more individuals may be involved. In an increasingly tense global context, Argentina faces a new challenge in counterintelligence and cybersecurity.