ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (WFLA) — Members of the African People’s Socialist Party, a political activist group with a chapter in St. Petersburg, discussed what they called a “violent military” attack by FBI agents after allegations of their involvement with Russian intelligence officers to spread propaganda and influence local elections.
In a press release, the movement said authorities held a “series of violent military FBI orchestrated pre- dawn attacks” that targeted chapter leaders at their homes and offices on July 29.
Members of the Federal Bureau of Investigation previously alleged that Aleksandr Ionov, a Russian national who served as the president of the Anti-Globalization Movement of Russia, worked on behalf of Russian Federal Security Service to use political groups across the United States, including the African People’s Socialist Party, to spread pro-Russia propaganda and interfere with local elections.
The U.S. Department of Justice alleged that Ionov worked with at least three other Russian officials in its “malign influence campaign” against the United States over the course of seven years.
In a video provided by the activist group, FBI agents can be seen using various tools to bust down the door of the Uhuru House, located in downtown St. Petersburg. The group claimed FBI agents broke locks and stole hard drives and documents.