US sanctions Russia over alleged election hacking

The White House on Thursday announced sanctions against Russian entities and individuals over alleged hacking during the 2016 U.S. presidential election.

Nine Russian entities and individuals, including two Russian intelligence services, were sanctioned for their alleged interfering with the U.S. election, U.S. President Barack Obama said in a statement.

In addition, the U.S. State Department on Thursday announced ejection of 35 Russian government officials from the United States, calling them "acting in a manner inconsistent with their diplomatic status."

The Obama administration in October officially blamed Russia for hacking U.S. political institutions and persons to interfere with the U.S. election process, an accusation immediately dismissed as "nonsense" by Moscow.

"These data theft and disclosure activities could only have been directed by the highest levels of the Russian government," said Obama.

source: Xinhua