Argentina to Expel Russian Citizen Accused of Operating Disinformation Network in Latin America

Argentina has detained a Russian national suspected of orchestrating a sophisticated Kremlin-linked influence operation that targeted audiences across three continents, marking the latest development in the country’s ongoing efforts to combat foreign interference.

Authorities announced that Dmitrii Novikov, 26, has had his residency permit revoked and will remain in preventive detention until his expulsion from Argentina is finalized. The Ministry of National Security cited both flight risk and national security concerns as justifications for the detention.

“Given the imminent risk of flight and the danger his continued presence posed to national security, the court ordered his preventive detention,” the ministry stated last week.

Argentine officials allege that Novikov is a key operative within “La Compañía,” also known as Project Lakhta, a Russian influence network that security experts believe is coordinated by Russian intelligence services. The network was reportedly previously overseen by Yevgeny Prigozhin, the late Russian oligarch who founded the Wagner Group mercenary organization before his death in a plane crash last year.

Security Minister Alejandra Monteoliva did not mince words when describing the threat posed by Novikov, calling him “a threat to the democratic order” and accusing him of entering the country under false pretenses in April this year.

“He came to operate, destabilize, and attack our institutions,” Monteoliva asserted in a statement released Friday.

Novikov was arrested at a residence in Lanús, a district within Buenos Aires province, after authorities determined he had misrepresented his reasons for visiting Argentina. He had initially entered the country as a tourist.

The detention follows a broader crackdown in June when Argentine officials uncovered a group of suspected operatives linked to the same network. According to authorities, these operatives collaborated with local partners to influence domestic affairs through carefully orchestrated propaganda and disinformation campaigns.

The alleged activities of La Compañía in Argentina were multifaceted, according to government sources. They included producing and distributing targeted social media content, conducting focus groups with Argentine citizens to refine messaging strategies, and gathering political intelligence for Russia.

Argentine media investigations published earlier this year provided additional details about the network’s methods. Reports in April alleged that operatives connected to La Compañía had placed hundreds of paid articles in local media outlets with content designed to discredit the government. These articles were then amplified through coordinated social media campaigns to maximize their reach and impact.

This is not Novikov’s first encounter with law enforcement in Latin America. Last September, he was arrested in the Dominican Republic, where investigators claimed he was operating a large-scale cyber influence operation spanning multiple Latin American countries, funded through cryptocurrency transactions to avoid traditional banking scrutiny. Despite these serious allegations, Dominican authorities released him without public explanation.

During his time in the Dominican Republic, officials say Novikov presented himself as a mixed martial arts athlete to establish a plausible cover story while concealing his Russian identity. He allegedly used the country as a base to obscure the origin of influence campaigns, working through local collaborators to maintain operational security.

The Russian government has consistently denied involvement in any influence operations linked to Project Lakhta. Responding to the recent developments, the Russian Embassy in Argentina dismissed the reports as “anti-Russian material” and claimed no evidence had been provided “to support these insinuations.”

The case highlights growing concerns about foreign interference in Latin American democracies, as nations like Russia reportedly seek to expand their influence in regions traditionally considered within the U.S. sphere of influence. Security analysts suggest these operations aim to shape public opinion, influence electoral outcomes, and potentially create political instability in target countries.