The US State Department has announced a reward of up to $10 million for information that leads to the identification of any foreign individuals or entities involved in election interference, just weeks before the upcoming presidential election in the United States.
In a statement via the Rewards for Justice program, the department specifically mentioned the Russian media organization Rybar LLC. Rybar is accused of using social media platforms to create discord, foster social division, and incite partisan and racial tensions, as well as promote hate and violence within the United States.
Rybar and Russian authorities have not yet provided a response to these allegations.
The State Department highlighted that Rybar has established a channel on the X platform, known as “TexasvsUSA,” which was used to exploit the issue of undocumented immigrants crossing the Texas border ahead of the US election. Additionally, Rybar is said to have utilized social media hashtags such as #HOLDTHELINE and #STANDWTHTEXAS to disseminate pro-Russian propaganda narratives.
According to the State Department, Rybar receives financial support from Rostec, a Russian defense industrial organization that was sanctioned by the US Treasury Department in 2022. The department’s announcement asserted that Rybar depends on its connections with Rostec to enhance Russia’s military capabilities and to forward pro-Russian and anti-Western narratives.
The department urged individuals with pertinent information, particularly about nine identified individuals alleged to have participated in Rybar’s malign influence operations concerning the US election, to contact the Rewards for Justice tipline.
Rybar reportedly operates a channel on the Telegram platform, which has gained popularity among pro-Ukraine-war hardliners in Russia’s “Z community,” amassing 1.3 million followers. The organization was co-founded by Mikhail Zvinchuk, a former member of Russia’s spetsnaz special forces and a previous employee of the Defense Ministry, who has been under European Union sanctions since June 2023.
Zvinchuk, a prominent and influential Russian military blogger, regularly provides updates on battlefield developments in Ukraine. In April 2024, he announced through Telegram the establishment of a “Rybar Media School” in Serbia. He claimed that the school has long studied Western approaches to information warfare and aims to apply this knowledge by teaching associates effective propaganda strategies, indicating that this is the beginning of a broader strategy in Western nations.
