- Title: Two Russian compounds closed in U.S. hack response
- Date: 30th December 2016
- Summary: WASHINGTON, D.C., UNITED STATES (DECEMBER 30, 2016) (REUTERS) PHOTOGRAPHER SHOOTING THE EXTERIOR OF THE RUSSIAN EMBASSY IN WASHINGTON, D.C. SIGN THAT READS "EMBASSY OF THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION" CAR ENTERING EMBASSY COMPOUND SHOT OF FLAG WIDE OF EMBASSY
- Embargoed: 14th January 2017 17:26
- Keywords: Russia embassy compound Maryland Long Island
- Location: WASHINGTON D.C./ UPPER BROOKVILLE, NEW YORK/ CENTREVILLE, MARYLAND, UNITED STATES
- City: WASHINGTON D.C./ UPPER BROOKVILLE, NEW YORK/ CENTREVILLE, MARYLAND, UNITED STATES
- Country: USA
- Topics: Diplomacy/Foreign Policy,Government/Politics
- Reuters ID: LVA0015F2SPXJ
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text:Two Russian compounds, one in Maryland and one in New York, remained shut on Friday morning (December 30) as part of sanctions against Russia after the Obama administration accused Moscow of interfering in the 2016 presidential elections.
President Barack Obama abruptly ordered the compound in Centreville, Maryland closed on Thursday (December 29), saying it had been "used by Russian personnel for intelligence-related purposes." The Russians have until noon ET (1700 GMT) on Friday to vacate the premises.
A Russian compound in Upper Brookville on Long Island in New York was also ordered closed. The actions were part of a White House response, including the expulsion of 35 suspected Russian spies, to what U.S. officials have called cyber interference by Russia in this year's U.S. presidential election campaign. The Kremlin has denied the hacking allegations.
On Friday morning, men identifying themselves as State Department officials blocked access to the compound and escorted reporters to about a mile (1.6 km) outside the property.
The Maryland estate includes a Georgian-style brick mansion, tennis courts and smaller cottages. It sits on the banks of the Corsica and Chester Rivers, where the locals like to fish, harvest oysters and hunt geese.
The Russian government maintained the Centreville compound after the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991. Property records show the Russian government owns an estate on Town Point Lane in Centreville valued at $8 million for tax purposes.
Obama, a Democrat, had promised consequences after U.S. intelligence officials blamed Russia for hacks intended to influence the 2016 election. Officials pointed the finger directly at Putin for personally directing the efforts and primarily targeting Democrats.
Washington put sanctions on two Russian intelligence agencies, the GRU and the FSB, four GRU officers and three companies that he said "provided material support to the GRU's cyber operations". - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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