The United States considered the Deputy Chairman of the State Duma and two assistants to be foreign agents According to the US Department

U.S. authorities have charged Deputy State Duma Speaker Alexander Babakov and his aide Mikhail Plisyuk and Alexander Vorobyov with "conspiracy to work in the United States as unregistered agents of RUSSIA, violation of U.S. sanctions, and visa fraud," the U.S. Department of Justice said. All of them were included in Washington's sanctions list in 2017.

According to the prosecution, Babakov, Plisyuk and Vorobyov were organizing a covert propaganda campaign in favor of Russia and were trying to win American officials over to their side.

“Beginning in 2012, Alexander Babakov <...> ran a non-profit organization that served as a front for exercising international foreign influence and [organizing] a network of disinformation in the interests of the Russian government,” FBI Deputy DIRECTOR Michael Driscoll was quoted by the Justice Department. The ministry claims that the illegal activities of Russian politicians continued until at least June 2017. In particular, they recruited at least one US citizen, after which he tried to arrange a meeting between Babakov and several members of Congress. In 2017, the Deputy Chairman of the State Duma with his assistants tried to send a letter to an American legislator through the same person, the purpose of which was to hold a meeting to “strengthen cooperation between” Russia and the United States.

The Justice Department also says that in February 2017, the defendants filed fake US visa applications: they wanted to impersonate tourists, but in fact planned "informal meetings with politicians with US advisers" to expand their influence. In 2018, after the introduction of sanctions against Babakov, Plisyuk and Vorobyov, they were denied a visa.

Babakov is a member of the State Duma, representing the Just Russia  - Patriots - For Truth faction. RBC sent him a request.