Obama expels 35 alleged Russian spies

30/12/2016

WASHINGTON (SW): US President Barack Obama announced Thursday that two Russian compounds in Maryland and New York, used by Russian personnel for intelligence-related activities, will be closed.

Access to the compounds will be denied to all Russian diplomats as of noon on Friday, "The New York Times" reported. The State Department also declared 35 Russian intelligence operatives "persona non grata," meaning they must leave the country within 72 hours.

Washington has accused the Russian military's Main Intelligence Directorate (GRU) of hacking information with the intent to interfere with the US election. As part of the move, the US released a detailed analysis, conducted by the Department of Homeland Security and FBI, attributing the malicious cyber attacks to Russia.

Moscow has rejected the accusations of hacking and cyber-interference, calling them "unfounded," and warned it would consider retaliatory measures. Late Thursday, a Kremlin spokesperson said the US sanctions "will destroy diplomatic relations with Russia." Dmitry Peskov, the spokesman for Russian President Vladimir Putin, signaled that Moscow was now considering retaliatory measures against the US.

ENDS

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