US President Barack Obama on Thursday ordered sanctions aimed at punishing Russia in response to what the US government says was Russian government-ordered interference in the US presidential election, according to dpa. Obama said his actions were in response to the Russian government's "cyber operations aimed at the US election," adding that "all Americans should be alarmed by Russia's actions." The sanctions target nine entities and individuals, including two Russian intelligence services and three companies that provided material support to one of the intelligence services, Obama said in a statement. In addition the State Department is declaring "persona non grata" 35 Russian intelligence operatives, meaning they must leave the country within 72 hours. It is additionally shutting down two Russian compounds in the United States used by Russian personnel for intelligence-related purposes. Obama had promised to respond to Russian hacking after the US said in October that the Russian government had intentionally interfered with the US presidential election process by directing attacks on email systems used by US political organizations. The breaches include a hack of Democratic Party emails in July that exposed favouritism within the top echelons of the party for Hillary Clinton over rival Bernie Sanders. US officials believe the hackers stole emails that were later released by WikiLeaks. Emails hacked from the account of John Podesta, the chairman of Clinton's campaign, were also made public. The administration said in October the US intelligence community was "confident" that the Russian government directed the attacks and that the thefts and disclosures were "intended to interfere with the US election process." Russia has denied the allegations. President-elect Donald Trump, who has vowed to seek better relations with Russian President Vladimir Putin, has cast doubt on the US intelligence agencies' conclusion that Russia directed the attacks and suggested that the United States should not retaliate against Russia. House Speaker Paul Ryan praised Obama's move, saying it "is overdue," but the Republican's statement also criticised the administration for "eight years of failed policy with Russia." Obama stood by the US claim that the data theft and disclosure activities could only have been directed by "the highest levels of the Russian government." He also said the sanctions followed repeated private and public warnings to the Russian government, calling them a "necessary and appropriate response to efforts to harm US interests in violation of established international norms of behaviour." The sanctions target Russia's largest foreign intelligence agency, including four individual officers of the agency, and its state security organisation. Obama also ordered the secretary of the treasury to designate two Russian individuals for using cyber-enabled means to cause misappropriation of funds and personal identifying information. In addition, the Department of Homeland Security and the Federal Bureau of Investigation also will release declassified technical information on Russian civilian and military intelligence service cyber activity with the goal of helping network defenders in the US and abroad identify, detect and disrupt "Russia's global campaign of malicious cyber activities." The US government also will report to Congress in the coming days about Russia's efforts to interfere in the US election as well as malicious cyber activity related to previous elections. Congress has vowed to conduct hearings into Russia's role in the election.
