- Title: Obama orders Russia expulsions, sanctions for interference in 2016 election
- Date: 29th December 2016
- Summary: WASHINGTON, D.C. UNITED STATES (DECEMBER 29, 2016) (REUTERS) WIDE OF RUSSIAN EMBASSY CLOSE UP OF SIGN READING (English): "EMBASSY OF THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION CAR ENTERING THROUGH GATES OF RUSSIAN EMBASSY WITH SECURITY CHECKING CAR FLAG OF RUSSIA CAR ENTERING THROUGH GATES RUSSIAN FLAG THROUGH GATES WIDE OF RUSSIAN EMBASSY
- Embargoed: 13th January 2017 21:02
- Keywords: Russian sanctions Obama cyber hacking Putin compounds Russian embassy
- Location: WASHINGTON, D.C., UNITED STATES
- City: WASHINGTON, D.C., UNITED STATES
- Country: USA
- Topics: Government/Politics
- Reuters ID: LVA0015EXTEMF
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: President Barack Obama on Thursday (December 29) ordered the expulsion of 35 Russian diplomats and sanctioned Russian intelligence officials who Washington believes were involved in hacking U.S. political groups in the 2016 presidential election.
The measures, taken during the last days of Obama's presidency, mark a new low in U.S.-Russian relations which have deteriorated over serious differences on Ukraine and Syria.
It was not immediately clear whether President-elect Donald Trump, who has repeatedly praised Russian President Vladimir Putin and nominated people seen as friendly toward Moscow to senior administration posts, would seek to roll back the measures once he takes office on Jan. 20.
Obama is seeking to deter Russia and other foreign governments from leveraging cyber attacks in the future to meddle in U.S. politics, former officials and cyber security experts said.
Obama has been under growing pressure from within his own administration and lawmakers of both political parties to respond more forcefully to the cyber attacks, which included leaked emails of Democratic Party operatives that became part of the media coverage in the campaign for the Nov. 8 presidential election.
The Russian foreign ministry said on Thursday the sanctions were counter-productive and would harm the restoration of bilateral ties. Moscow denies the hacking allegation.
Obama sanctioned two Russian intelligence agencies, the GRU and the FSB, four GRU officers and three companies "that provided material support to the GRU's cyber operations.
Obama said the State Department declared as "persona non grata" 35 Russian intelligence operatives and is closing two Russian compounds in New York and Maryland that were used by Russian personnel for "intelligence-related purposes." The State Department originally said the 35 were diplomats.
A senior U.S. official told Reuters the move would affect the Russian embassy in Washington and consulate in San Francisco.
The Russians have 72 hours to leave the United States, the official said. Access to the two compounds, which are used by Russian officials for intelligence gathering, will be denied to all Russian officials as of noon on Friday, the senior U.S. official added. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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