State Dept. offers $10m reward for info on Rybar<\/title> <meta name=\"description\" content=\"The U.S. government has announced a reward of up to $10 million for information about the Russian media organization Rybar and its employees\"> <link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/cyberscoop.com\/rybar-russia-propganda-state-department-reward\/\"> <meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\"> <meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\"> <meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"State Department offers $10 million reward for info on Russian propaganda outlet\"> <meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"The U.S. government has announced a reward of up to $10 million for information about the Russian media organization Rybar and its employees\"> <meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/cyberscoop.com\/rybar-russia-propganda-state-department-reward\/\"> <meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"CyberScoop\"> <meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2024-10-21T13:29:04+00:00\"> <meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2024-10-21T13:29:06+00:00\"> <meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/state-department-offers-10-million-reward-for-info-on-russian-propaganda-outlet-2.jpg\"> <meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"1920\"> <meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"1267\"> <meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\"> <meta name=\"author\" content=\"Greg Otto\"> <meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\"> <meta name=\"twitter:creator\" content=\"@gregotto\">  <link rel=\"dns-prefetch\" href=\"\/\/securepubads.g.doubleclick.net\">\n<link rel=\"dns-prefetch\" href=\"\/\/use.typekit.net\">\n<link rel=\"alternate\" type=\"application\/rss+xml\" title=\"CyberScoop \u00bb Feed\" href=\"https:\/\/cyberscoop.com\/feed\/\">\n<link rel=\"alternate\" type=\"application\/rss+xml\" title=\"CyberScoop \u00bb Comments Feed\" 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stickybar--newsletter js-stickybar\" readability=\"0.82\"> <button class=\"stickybar__close js-stickybar-close\" aria-controls=\"stickybar\"> <svg class=\"icon icon--close\" width=\"21\" height=\"22\" viewBox=\"0 0 21 22\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"m.822.518-.805.805L9.695 11 .017 20.678l.805.805 9.678-9.678 9.677 9.678.806-.805L11.305 11l9.678-9.677-.806-.805-9.677 9.677L.822.518Z\" fill=\"currentColor\" \/><\/svg> <span class=\"visually-hidden\">Close<\/span> <\/button> <\/section>\n<article class=\"single-article content\">\n<div class=\"single-article__container js-single-article-content\">\n<header class=\"single-article__header \" readability=\"25.376019575856\">\n<div class=\"single-article__header-content\" readability=\"33.5625\">\n<ul class=\"single-article__eyebrow\">\n<li class=\"single-article__category\"> <a class=\"single-article__category-link\" href=\"https:\/\/cyberscoop.com\/news\/election-security\/\"> <span>Election Security<\/span> <\/a> <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p> The outlet runs social media channels that have been vocal on politically divisive topics in the U.S. <\/p>\n<p>  <br \/>\n<audio id=\"audio-player\" src=\"https:\/\/wp-tts-cdn.api.scpnewsgrp.com\/cyberscoop\/82214\/english.openai.mp3\"><\/audio> <\/p>\n<div readability=\"11\">\n<div>\n<p>Listen to this article<\/p>\n<p>  <\/p>\n<p>0:00<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>  <\/p>\n<p> <span id=\"tts-tooltip\">Learn more.<\/span> <span> This feature uses an automated voice, which may result in occasional errors in pronunciation, tone, or sentiment. <\/span> <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>  <\/div>\n<div class=\"single-article__cover-wrap\">\n<figure class=\"single-article__cover\"> <img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" fetchpriority=\"high\" width=\"640\" height=\"422\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/state-department-offers-10-million-reward-for-info-on-russian-propaganda-outlet.jpg?resize=640%2C422&ssl=1\" class=\"single-article__cover-image wp-post-image\" alt decoding=\"async\" fetchpriority=\"high\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/state-department-offers-10-million-reward-for-info-on-russian-propaganda-outlet-2.jpg 1920w, https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/state-department-offers-10-million-reward-for-info-on-russian-propaganda-outlet-2.jpg?resize=300,198 300w, https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/state-department-offers-10-million-reward-for-info-on-russian-propaganda-outlet-2.jpg?resize=768,507 768w, https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/state-department-offers-10-million-reward-for-info-on-russian-propaganda-outlet-2.jpg?resize=1024,676 1024w, https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/state-department-offers-10-million-reward-for-info-on-russian-propaganda-outlet-2.jpg?resize=1536,1014 1536w, https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/state-department-offers-10-million-reward-for-info-on-russian-propaganda-outlet-2.jpg?resize=600,396 600w, https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/state-department-offers-10-million-reward-for-info-on-russian-propaganda-outlet-2.jpg?resize=255,168 255w, https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/state-department-offers-10-million-reward-for-info-on-russian-propaganda-outlet-2.jpg?resize=511,337 511w, https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/state-department-offers-10-million-reward-for-info-on-russian-propaganda-outlet-2.jpg?resize=1023,675 1023w, https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/state-department-offers-10-million-reward-for-info-on-russian-propaganda-outlet-2.jpg?resize=1277,843 1277w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1023px) 100vw, 1023px\"><figcaption> Russian soldiers stand on Red Square in central Moscow on September 29, 2022, as the square is sealed prior to a ceremony of the incorporation of the new territories into Russia. (Photo by ALEXANDER NEMENOV\/AFP via Getty Images) <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/header>\n<div class=\"single-article__content\">\n<div class=\"single-article__content-inner has-drop-cap\"> <html readability=\"19.261904761905\"><body readability=\"37.941176470588\"><\/p>\n<p>The U.S. government has announced a reward of up to $10 million for information about the Russian media organization Rybar and its employees, amid allegations it\u2019s involved in spreading propaganda aimed at influencing the upcoming U.S. presidential election.<\/p>\n<p>According to the State Department\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/rewardsforjustice.net\/rewards\/rybar\/\">Rewards for Justice Program<\/a>, Rybar has been accused of using its extensive social media reach, with over 1.3 million followers on various channels, to promote pro-Russian and anti-Western sentiments. The organization has allegedly established several contentious online platforms, which have sought to create social and political divisions within the United States. These efforts are reportedly linked to broader Russian strategies to impact U.S. electoral processes.<\/p>\n<p>Rybar is said to have received financial backing from a state-linked Russian defense entity that is currently under U.S. sanctions. The media outlet, which was founded by <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/world\/2023\/aug\/27\/wagner-boss-yevgeny-prigozhin-killed-in-plane-crash-russia-investigative-committee-confirms\">deceased Russian mogul Yevgeniy Prigozhin<\/a>, ran online channels inciting discord on issues such as immigration and political alignment, particularly in connection with ongoing conflicts.<\/p>\n<p>Rybar controls social media channels like #HOLDTHELINE and #STANDWTHTEXAS to push Russian political interests in the United States. Earlier this year, Rybar set up a channel called \u201cTEXASvsUSA\u201d on X (formerly Twitter), which spewed rhetoric tied to illegal immigration. <\/p>\n<div class=\"ad ad--inline_1 \">\n<div class=\"ad__inner\"> <span class=\"screen-reader-text\">Advertisement<\/span> <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>The State Department called out nine people, including Mikhail Zvinchuk, who runs the blog.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/RFJ_USA\/status\/1846566996458000702\">https:\/\/twitter.com\/RFJ_USA\/status\/1846566996458000702<\/a><\/p>\n<p>This initiative is part of a larger crackdown on foreign election interference, reflecting growing concerns over the integrity of democratic processes in the face of international threats.<br \/>The announcement comes as the State Department has been heavily focused on calling out Russian propaganda. <a href=\"https:\/\/cyberscoop.com\/rt-arms-dealing-global-influence-operations\/\">The State Department sanctioned RT<\/a> and related media companies in September, accusing the Russian state-funded news outlet of operating a crowdfunding website that funneled weapons and equipment to Russian soldiers fighting in Ukraine.<\/p>\n<p><\/body> <\/p>\n<footer class=\"single-article__footer\" readability=\"4.5\">\n<div class=\"author-card\" readability=\"14\">\n<div class=\"author-card__avatar\">\n<figure class=\"author-card__image-wrap\"> <img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"author-card__image\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/state-department-offers-10-million-reward-for-info-on-russian-propaganda-outlet-1.jpg?w=640&ssl=1\" alt=\"Greg Otto\"> <\/figure>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p><h4 class=\"author-card__name\">Written by Greg Otto<\/h4>\n<p> Greg Otto is Editor-in-Chief of CyberScoop, overseeing all editorial content for the website. Greg has led cybersecurity coverage that has won various awards, including accolades from the Society of Professional Journalists and the American Society of Business Publication Editors. Prior to joining Scoop News Group, Greg worked for the Washington Business Journal, U.S. News & World Report and WTOP Radio. 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{"id":5855,"date":"2024-10-21T08:29:04","date_gmt":"2024-10-21T13:29:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cyberscoop.com\/?p=82214"},"modified":"2024-10-21T08:29:04","modified_gmt":"2024-10-21T13:29:04","slug":"state-department-offers-10-million-reward-for-info-on-russian-propaganda-outlet","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/index.php\/2024\/10\/21\/state-department-offers-10-million-reward-for-info-on-russian-propaganda-outlet\/","title":{"rendered":"State Department offers $10 million reward for info on Russian propaganda outlet"},"content":{"rendered":"