Gate closed as Russians depart New York compound

Record ID: 162810

  • Title: Gate closed as Russians depart New York compound
  • Date: 30th December 2016
  • Summary: UPPER BROOKVILLE, NEW YORK, UNITED STATES (DECEMBER 30, 2016) (REUTERS) VANS PULLING UP TO SECURITY OUTSIDE RUSSIAN COMPOUND VARIOUS OF VANS DEPARTING RUSSIAN COMPOUND LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICIALS AND OTHERS STANDING AT END OF DRIVEWAY TO RUSSIAN COMPOUND PERSON LOCKING GATE OF RUSSIAN COMPOUND AND WALKING UP TO OTHER PEOPLE AT END OF DRIVEWAY
  • Embargoed: 14th January 2017 19:35
  • Keywords: Barack Obama Obama Putin hacking Upper Brookville Russian compound
  • Location: UPPER BROOKVILLE, NEW YORK, UNITED STATES
  • City: UPPER BROOKVILLE, NEW YORK, UNITED STATES
  • Country: USA
  • Topics: Diplomacy/Foreign Policy,Government/Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVA0015F2TB9J
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text:In small convoys of vehicles, Russians departed two countryside vacation retreats outside Washington and New York City without fanfare on Friday (December 30), ordered out by President Barack Obama who said the premises were linked to spying.
    The Russians were given until noon ET (1700 GMT) on Friday to vacate the compounds in Centreville, Maryland, and in Upper Brookville on Long Island in New York state. By late morning, trucks, buses and black sedans with diplomatic license plates were leaving. Some of the passengers smiled and waved as they drove away.
    Obama abruptly ordered the closures on Thursday, saying the compounds had been "used by Russian personnel for intelligence-related purposes." It was part of his response, including the expulsion of 35 suspected Russian spies, to what U.S. officials have called cyber interference by Moscow in this year's U.S. presidential election campaign. The Kremlin has denied the hacking allegations.
    The closures echoed the old days of tensions between the United States and what was then the Soviet Union.
    The compound in New York State is set back from the view of the road at the top of a steep hill, accessed by a driveway that curves upwards out of sight.
    Russia's ambassador to the United Nations, Vitaly Churkin, accused the Obama administration of targeting Russian diplomats' children by closing compounds that he said would be used by families over the Christmas and New Year school vacation.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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