US extends sanctions against Russia over alleged cyberattacks

US President Joe Biden extended for a year the state of emergency and sanctions for cyber attacks allegedly subjected to the United States, the restrictions apply to Russian organizations. This was reported by the press service of the White House.

“This significant malicious activity in cyberspace continues to pose an unusual and extraordinary threat to the national security, foreign policy, and economy of the United States. For this reason, the state of emergency introduced on April 1, 2015 must be maintained after April 1, 2023,” the notice says.

Biden decided to extend the state of emergency imposed by Executive Order No. 13694 for one year, the statement said on his behalf. Decree No. 13757, which followed it, directly imposing sanctions, will also remain in force .

The scandal around cyber attacks on the US Democratic Party flared up in the summer of 2016. Then the WikiLeaks portal published letters and documents related to US presidential candidate Hillary Clinton. According to the Department of Homeland Security and the Office of the DIRECTOR of National Intelligence of the United States, the purpose of these "thefts and disclosures <...> was to interfere with the electoral process in the United States." This was followed by several more publications of the correspondence of the leadership of the Democratic Party.

In October 2016, the administration of US President Barack Obama accused the Russian authorities of interfering in the presidential election and hacking the Democratic Party. The Kremlin and the Russian Foreign Ministry have denied allegations of involvement in the hacks and called them ridiculous.

In December 2016, Obama imposed sanctions on the FSB, the Main Directorate of the General Staff, as well as three companies that, according to the US, "provide material support for cyber actions" of the department. The United States included the autonomous non-profit organization "Professional Association of Informatics System Designers", Special Technology Center LLC, and the COR Security company. Then 11 individuals and legal entities fell under the restrictions. Their assets in the United States were frozen, individuals were banned from entering the country.