The Russian government announced Friday that it will expel 10 American diplomats and adopt a series of sanctions in response to a similar decision made by the United States on Thursday because of Russian cyber espionage and interference in Ukraine.
Russian President Vladimir Putin “has approved these measures in response to the absolutely unfriendly and gratuitous acts announced by Washington against Russia, our citizens, individuals and legal entities, and our financial system,” said Sergey Lavrov, the Russian Foreign Minister. , at a press conference.
BLACK LIST AND EXPULSION OF US DIPLOMATS
Lavrov announced that a “black list” will be published that will include eight US officials who exercise responsibility in US government institutions, which on Thursday sanctioned senior Russian officials.
Russia will also limit and cease the activities of Russian foundations and non-governmental organizations that “openly” interfere in Russia’s internal affairs.
In addition, the Russian authorities will initiate the process of denouncing the agreement that regulates the mobility of diplomats in the country to which they have been assigned in order to restrict their movements away from Moscow.
Lavrov warned that if the current “exchange of courtesies” continues, Russia will ask the US to reduce the number of its diplomats on Russian territory from the current 450 to 300, in parity with the Russian presence in the US.
He explained that Russia will reserve for a future “painful measures” for the American business world.
Russia and Iran obtained voter registration information from the United States, the government’s director of national intelligence announced at a rare press conference Wednesday night.
As for the rest of the measures and the identity of the sanctioned senior US officials, he announced that they will be known later this Friday.
He also specified that Russia “recommended” the US ambassador, John Sullivan, to return to his country for consultations with his superiors.
THE SANCTIONS OF THE BIDEN GOVERNMENT FOR RUSSIA
On Thursday, the US imposed sanctions on Russia for its alleged interference in the 2020 presidential elections and its alleged role in the massive SolarWinds cyberattack, in addition to imposing punishments related to Russian actions in Ukraine and Afghanistan.
The government of President Joe Biden also announced the expulsion from the United States of 10 members of the Russian diplomatic mission in Washington DC, including members of the intelligence services.
In addition, the White House formally accused the Russian Foreign Espionage Service (SVR) of having “perpetrated” the massive cyberattack that allegedly began in 2019 and penetrated the systems of the US government and large companies through a program of the SolarWinds company.
In total, the new US sanctions affect six Russian companies for their cyber espionage activities, 32 Russian organizations and individuals for electoral interference, and eight individuals and entities for the Russian occupation of the Ukrainian Crimean peninsula.