WASHINGTON: The United States slapped sanctions on 19 Russian individuals and five groups, including Moscow’s intelligence services, for meddling in the 2016 US election and malicious cyber attacks, the Treasury Department said on Thursday.
Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin said there would be additional sanctions against Russian government officials and oligarchs “for their destabilising activities.” Mnuchin did not give a time frame for those sanctions, which he said would sever the individuals’ access to the US financial system.
“The administration is confronting and countering malign Russian cyber activity, including their attempted interference in US elections, destructive cyber-attacks, and intrusions targeting critical infrastructure,” Mnuchin said in a statement.
US intelligence agencies have concluded that Russia interfered in the 2016 presidential campaign using hacking and propaganda, an effort that eventually included attempting to tilt the race in President Donald Trump’s favour.
Russia denies interfering in the election. Those targeted by the new sanctions include the Russian nationals and entities charged on February 16 by US Special Counsel Robert Mueller with conspiring to tamper in the election. — Reuters
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