US hits Russia with sanctions for election meddling

Donald Trump’s administration on Thursday levied sanctions against Russia’s top spy agencies and more than a dozen individuals for trying to influence the 2016 US presidential election and conducting separate cyberattacks.   

The announcement follows a lengthy delay that had caused anger on Capitol Hill and raised questions about Trump’s willingness to confront Moscow.   

The measures target five entities and 19 individuals --including the FSB, Russia’s top spy service; the military intelligence agency, or GRU; and 13 people recently indicted by Robert Mueller, the US special counsel handling a sprawling Russia probe.   

Sanctions were also levied against individuals behind a separate Petya cyberattack and an “ongoing” attempt to hack the US energy grid. “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,” said Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin.   

 “These targeted sanctions are a part of a broader effort to address the ongoing nefarious attacks emanating from Russia.” Many of the main entities and individuals hit -- including the spy agencies and ‘troll factory’ boss Yevgeny Prigozhin -- already face assets freezes and travel bans, either put in place under Barack Obama’s administration or for actions linked to Russia’s actions in Ukraine.   

But the decision heaps pressure on Moscow as it faces separate punitive measures for an alleged attempt to kill a Russian-born British informant with a nerve agent west of London.   
WASHINGTON AFP March15, 2018