U.S. imposes sanctions on Russia for election-related cyberattacks

By Chang Jae-soon

WASHINGTON, Dec. 29 (Yonhap) -- The United States imposed sanctions on two Russian intelligence agencies and nine other entities and individuals on Thursday in retaliation for cyberattacks accused of interfering with the U.S. presidential election.

The U.S. also declared 35 Russian intelligence operatives "persona non grata," ordering them to leave within 72 hours, and shut down two Russian compounds in Maryland and New York that were used by Russian personnel for intelligence-related purposes.

"Today, I have ordered a number of actions in response to the Russian government's aggressive harassment of U.S. officials and cyber operations aimed at the U.S. election," President Barack Obama said in a statement.

"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 U.S. interests in violation of established international norms of behavior," he said.

Obama said the U.S. determined in October that Russia took actions intended to interfere with the U.S. election process, adding that such data theft and disclosure activities "could only have been directed by the highest levels of the Russian government."

"Moreover, our diplomats have experienced an unacceptable level of harassment in Moscow by Russian security services and police over the last year. Such activities have consequences. Today, I have ordered a number of actions in response," he said.

Among those sanctioned are two intelligence agencies, known as the GRU and the FSB. The GRU or Main Intelligence Agency is a Russian military intelligence agency and the FSB or the Federal Security Service is considered a successor to the Soviet-era KGB.

Other blacklisted entities and individuals include four GRU officers; three companies that provided material support to the GRU's cyber operations; two Russian individuals accused of using cyber-enabled means to cause misappropriation of funds and personal identifying information.

"These actions are 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 publicized," Obama said.

"In addition to holding Russia accountable for what it has done, the United States and friends and allies around the world must work together to oppose Russia's efforts to undermine established international norms of behavior, and interfere with democratic governance," he said.

jschang@yna.co.kr
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