Russia has secretly funneled more than $300 million to foreign political parties and candidates since 2014 in an effort to influence elections in more than two dozen countries, a senior U.S. official told reporters.
Russia transfers the funds — cash, cryptocurrency and non-monetary contributions — using intermediaries including security services, oligarchs and supposedly independent foundations or think tanks, the State Department said in a note to dozens of U.S. embassies that was shared with reporters.
This influence effort may ramp up in the months to come as Russia seeks to blunt the effect of international sanctions over its invasion of Ukraine, according to the official, who spoke to reporters on condition of anonymity.
