The United States sent 35 Russian diplomats from Washington and San Francisco, and also announced new sanctions against Russia.
Reportedly, the sanctions imposed in connection with the cyber attacks during the election campaign, in which Washington blamed Russia.
President Barack Obama, commenting on sanctions, he called them a necessary and proportionate response to Russia’s actions. Send the Russian diplomats Obama called “scouts”.
According to the report on the website of the U.S. Treasury, Washington closes two of Russia’s diplomatic mission in Maryland and new York, which, in the opinion of the American authorities, were used for intelligence purposes. The access of Russian diplomats to the territory of the missions will be closed on Friday at 12 noon local time.
Diplomats declared persona non grata must leave the U.S. within 72 hours.
Restrictive measures promulgated by the U.S. Treasury Department, also affected six people and five offices, which include Russia’s FSB. Among those in the list of persons includes the command of the GRU: head of the GRU Igor Korobov and its the first Zama Vladimir Alekseev and Sergey Lizunov.
Also, the U.S. Treasury mentions Igor Kostyukova, calling it one of the first deputies of the head of the GRU. Earlier Igor Kostyukov never mentioned in this capacity.
Another two Russian citizens on the list — Alex Bilan and Evgeny Bogachev — called FBI “hackers” and has long been put on the international wanted list. The FBI suspects them of extortion, computer hacking, identity theft and other types of fraud.
In the Russian state Duma, commenting on the decision on sanctions and the expulsion of diplomats, said that the decision “recalls the agony of leaving of a command of Barack Obama.
“It is really disturbing news. It’s all reminiscent of the agony of the Obama team that is trying to create difficulties for building relationships our leadership with a new US administration, with trump. He creates additional difficulties, which he would then have to overcome,” — said RIA Novosti Deputy Chairman of the Duma Committee on international Affairs Alexei chepa.
