US imposes new sanctions on Russia, expels 35 diplomats

US President Barack Obama has announced new sanctions against Russian companies and individuals for allegedly interfering in US elections.

Photo: Sputnik

The Guardian quoted a White House announcement saying that the new sanctions were issued on the afternoon of December 29, applying to 5 organizations and 4 individuals. In addition, the US also expelled 35 Russian diplomats, giving them 72 hours to leave the US, and closed two Russian compounds in Maryland and New York.

In an order signed on the evening of December 28, President Obama said he was taking additional measures to "address the national emergency related to harmful online activities...because the proliferation of such activities erodes democratic institutions and processes."

The US President also warned: "The above actions are not all of America's response to Russia's aggressive actions." Mr. Obama said, the US has a series of other tools at its disposal to use "in the right place, in the right place, according to our choice, and some of those tools will not be made public."

The Obama administration also sent a report to Congress on Russia's "attempts to interfere in US elections and malicious cyber activities related to previous elections.

Prior to the report being submitted, the FBI and the National Cybersecurity and Communications Integration Center released a joint report outlining technical information regarding the tools and infrastructure used by Russian military intelligence agencies and individuals to interfere in the election.

US intelligence agencies believe that the Russian government ordered cyber attacks against the Democratic National Committee (DNC), Hillary Clinton's campaign and other political organizations, in order to influence the election, benefiting Republican candidate Donald Trump.

In Moscow, a spokesman for President Putin said Russia regretted the new sanctions and would consider retaliatory measures.

Asked about the possibility that President-elect Donald Trump would overturn his predecessor's orders, US officials said Mr. Trump could do so but warned that it would be an unwise move.

According to Vietnamnet.vn