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Russia-US cyber scandal

US slaps sanctions on Russia over alleged cyberattacks

President Barack Obama said the sanctions came in response to "the Russian government’s aggressive harassment of U.S. officials" and "cyber operations aimed at the U.S. election"

© AP Photo/Alastair Grant

WASHINGTON, December 29. /TASS/. Washington imposed sanctions on Russia for alleged cyberattacks on the US electoral system, the US Department of the Treasury said Thursday.

US president Barack Obama said in a statement the measures were "a necessary and appropriate response to efforts to harm U.S. interests in violation of established international norms of behavior."

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He said the sanctions came in response to "the Russian government’s aggressive harassment of U.S. officials" and "cyber operations aimed at the U.S. election."

"These actions follow repeated private and public warnings that we have issued to the Russian government," Obama said.

The sanctions targeted "the GRU and the FSB, two Russian intelligence services; four individual officers of the GRU; and three companies that provided material support to the GRU’s cyber operations," the US president said while on vacation in Hawaii.

The four individuals are GRU chief Igor Korobov and his deputies Vladimir Alexeyev, Igor Kostyukov and Sergei Gizunov.

In addition, the Secretary of the Treasury designated two Russian individuals for using cyber-enabled means to cause misappropriation of funds and personal identifying information. Their names are Evgeniy Bogachev and Aleksey Belan.

Obama also said the State Department is also shutting down two Russian compounds, in Maryland and New York, "used by Russian personnel for intelligence-related purposes," and is declaring "persona non grata 35 Russian intelligence operatives.".

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Value of frozen Russian assets in Switzerland drops to $6.36 bln over the year

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Ukrainian army strikes own surrendering soldiers — POW

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Senior lawmaker threatens US with retaliation for 'stealing' Russian assets

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Russian peacekeepers heading for temporary deployment centers in Armenia

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Ukraine’s military intelligence chief recognizes Russia’s success in Avdeyevka

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West balancing on edge of direct military confrontation between nuclear powers — Lavrov

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Ukraine turns from sovereign country into Western protectorate, Hungarian PM says

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Russian missile cruiser Varyag enters Mediterranean Sea

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Russian economy to see serious structural changes — presidential aide

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Top Russian security official praises Republika Srpska’s principled position on Ukraine

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Lavrov speaks of West’s agony, Russia’s approach to any future talks with Kiev

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New anti-Russian sanctions to include ban on LNG supplies — Swedish Foreign Minister

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Armenia begins border delimitation with Azerbaijan — Interior Ministry

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West battlegroup destroys two Ukrainian drones, hit over 170 Ukrainian army’s facilities

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Dollar almost completely gone from Russia-China trade relations — Lavrov

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Most agents at Security Service of Ukraine set on war with Russia — former officer

Vasily Prozorov said that "it is extremely difficult to count on any better judgement on their part"

EU reacts to worsening of situation for Ukraine by preparing for new world war — Szijjarto

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Lavrov slams West for promoting 'dishonest schemes' for restrictions on nuclear weapons

The top Russian diplomat stressed that "striving to attain decisive military superiority, Washington and its allies are enlarging the network of alliances directed against third countries"

Flow of cargo traffic via North-South transport corridor to reach 60-100 mln tons

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Top Hungarian diplomat warns US-NATO-EU competition in Ukraine could spark WWIII

"Preparations for a world war are intensifying in Brussels," Peter Szijjarto warned

Eleven Russians dead, 48 injured in Ukrainian strikes over week

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Russia has significant amount of West’s funds in case of confiscation of its assets

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Russia presents world’s first hydrogen-fueled luxury car at Innoprom exhibition

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