Russian ‘troll farm’ company pleads ‘not guilty’ to meddling in US election

Concord Management and Consulting LLC, a Russian-based company accused of producing propaganda, posing as American political activists and meddling in the 2016 US presidential elections via social media content, pleaded 'not guilty' to all charges on Wednesday. The company is controlled by Russian businessman Yevgeny Prigozhin, AKA 'Putin's chef,' (Concord Management reportedly provides catering services to the Kremlin) whose two companies have been indicted in the US for interfering in the American political process. Twelve other Russian citizens have also been indicted in the case; all of the accused are subject to US sanctions. The 37-page indictment details how the so-called 'troll farms' allegedly used social media to heighten "political intensity" in the run-up to the elections and even sent Russian citizens to the US “to collect intelligence for their interference operations.” The next hearing in the case is scheduled to take place on May 16.