U.S. President Barack Obama has ordered the expulsion of 35 Russian
diplomats including shutting down of two Russian compounds in the U.S.
in a number of actions announced on Thursday as reprisal for Russia’s
meddling in US election.
Obama’s speech obtained by correspondent
of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in New York, stated that the
actions were “in response to Russia’s malicious cyber activity and
harassment.
“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 U.S. election.
“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 behaviour.
“The U.S State Department is
also shutting down two Russian compounds, in Maryland and New York, used
by Russian personnel for intelligence-related purposes, and is
declaring ‘persona non grata’ on 35 Russian intelligence operatives.
“Finally,
the Department of Homeland Security and the Federal Bureau of
Investigation are releasing declassified technical information on
Russian civilian and military intelligence service cyber activity.
“This
is to help network defenders in the U.S. and abroad to identify,
detect, and disrupt Russia’s global campaign of malicious cyber
activities.”
According to him, all Americans should be alarmed by Russia’s actions.
Obama
added that “in October, my Administration publicised our assessment
that Russia took actions intended to interfere with the U.S. election
process.
“These data theft and disclosure activities could only have been directed by the highest levels of the Russian government.
“Moreover,
our diplomats have experienced unacceptable level of harassment in
Moscow by Russian security services and police over the last year. Such
activities have consequences.”
He explained that he had issued an
executive order that provided additional authority for responding to
certain cyber activity aimed at interfering with or undermining
America’s election processes and institutions, or those of its allies or
partners.
“Using this new authority, I have sanctioned nine
entities and individuals: the GRU and the FSB, two Russian intelligence
services; four individual officers of the GRU; and three companies that
provided material support to the GRU’s cyber operations.
“In
addition, the Secretary of the Treasury is designating two Russian
individuals for using cyber-enabled means to cause misappropriation of
funds and personal identifying information.”
The U.S. president explained that “these actions are not the sum total of our response to Russia’s aggressive activities.
“We will continue to take actions at a time and place of our choosing, some of which will not be publicised.
“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
behaviour, and interfere with democratic governance.
“To that
end, my Administration will be providing a report to Congress in the
coming days about Russia’s efforts to interfere in our election, as well
as malicious cyber activity related to our election cycle in previous
elections.”
Police in Rio de Janeiro have found a
body inside a burnt-out car that had been rented by the Greek
ambassador to Brazil, Kyriakos Amiridis. 
