Election hacking dispute heats up
"This is not the sum total of our response to Russia's aggressive activities. We will continue to take a variety of actions at a time and place of our choosing, some of which will not be publicised." Barack Obama, US president
UNITED STATES/RUSSIA: The United States yesterday expelled 35 Russian diplomats in response to Kremlin-backed hacking of the presidential election, escalating tensions between Moscow and Washington.
The officials from the Russian embassy in Washington and its consulate in San Francisco were declared to be spies and told to leave the country within 72 hours.
President Barack Obama said: ‘‘The State Department is shutting down two Russian compounds used by Russian personnel for intelligence-related purposes and is declaring ‘persona non grata’ 35 Russian intelligence operatives.’’
Obama also announced the closure of two compounds, in New York and Maryland, owned by the Russian government and used for intelligence operations.
He ordered sanctions against Russia’s GRU and FSB intelligence agencies and six named individuals. They include Lieutenant General Korobov, head of the GRU.
Obama accused Russia of ‘‘aggressive harassment’’ and said all Americans should be alarmed by Russia’s actions. He said the hacking ‘‘could only have been directed by the highest levels of the Russian government’’.
A senior US administration official said: ‘‘Russia is not going to stop. We have every indication that they will attempt to interfere in other elections, including of our European allies.’’
Obama said: ‘‘These actions follow repeated private and public warnings that we have issued to the Russian government, and are a necessary and appropriate response to efforts to harm US interests in violation of established international norms of behaviour. Such activities have consequences.’’
He added: ‘‘This is not the sum total of our response to Russia’s aggressive activities.
‘‘We will continue to take a variety of actions at a time and place of our choosing, some of which will not be publicised.’’
The CIA and FBI concluded that Russia was responsible for hacking Democratic Party computers and releasing embarrassing emails with the intention of helping Donald Trump to win the White House. Russia has repeatedly denied the accusations.
A spokesman for Russia’s Foreign Ministry said: ‘‘If Washington really does take new hostile steps, they will be answered. Any action against Russian diplomatic missions in the US will immediately bounce back on US diplomats in Russia.’’
Trump said: ‘‘I think we ought to get on with our lives.’’
He added: ‘‘I think that computers have complicated lives very greatly. The whole age of computer has made it where nobody knows exactly what is going on.’’
- Telegraph Group