Trump administration sanctions Russians for election meddling and cyberattacks

WASHINGTON — President Trump's administration imposed sanctions on a series of Russian organisations and individuals on Thursday (March 15) in retaliation for interference in the 2016 presidential elections and other "malicious" cyberattacks. It was the most significant action taken against Moscow since Mr Trump took office.

The sanctions came at the same time the Trump administration joined a collective statement with Britain, France and Germany on Thursday denouncing Russia for its apparent role in a nerve gas attack on a former Russian spy and his daughter on British soil, calling it a "clear violation" of international law. But the statement included no joint action in response.

The American sanctions announced on Thursday targeted many of the same Russian organisations and operatives identified by Robert S. Mueller III, the special counsel, in an indictment that outlined an audacious attempt to spread disinformation and propaganda to disrupt American democracy and, eventually, influence the vote on behalf of Mr Trump. The sanctions also responded to other cyberattacks, including a previously undisclosed attempt to penetrate the American energy grid.

"The administration is confronting and countering malign Russian cyberactivity, including their attempted interference in US elections, destructive cyberattacks, and intrusions targeting critical infrastructure," Treasury Secretary Steven T Mnuchin said in a statement. "These targeted sanctions are a part of a broader effort to address the ongoing nefarious attacks emanating from Russia."

The sanctions, targeting five Russian organisations and 19 individuals, will generally block them from travelling to the United States, freeze any assets in the country and bar American businesses and individuals from doing business with them. Among the organisations sanctioned were the Federal Security Service, the successor to the KGB known by its Russian acronym FSB, and Russian military intelligence, known as GRU, although they, like a few others, were previously penalised under past actions for the intervention in Ukraine.

In addition to the election meddling, the attacks cited by the Treasury Department included the NotPetya cyberattack that caused billions of dollars in damage in the United States, Europe and Asia in what the department called "the most destructive and costly cyberattack in history."

The action came a day after Britain expelled 23 Russian diplomats and announced other measures in response to the poisoning attack but its allies announced no similar efforts.

"This use of a military-grade nerve agent, of a type developed by Russia, constitutes the first offensive use of a nerve agent in Europe since the Second World War," the statement said. "It is an assault on the United Kingdom's sovereignty and any such use by a state party is a clear violation of the Chemical Weapons Convention and a breach of international law. It threatens the security of us all."

The statement indicated that the United States and other allies backed Britain's conclusion about Moscow's responsibility. "We share the United Kingdom's assessment that there is no plausible alternative explanation, and note that Russia's failure to address the legitimate request by the government of the United Kingdom further underlines Russia's responsibility," it said. THE NEW YORK TIMES