US expels 35 Russian agents, slaps sanctions over hacking

President Barack Obama has sanctioned Russia and expelled 35 of its agents over alleged Russian hacking during the US presidential polls, but his counterpart Vladimir Putin surprisingly refused to retaliate, saying he will watch the moves of President-elect Donald Trump.

“All Americans should be alarmed by Russia’s actions,” Obama said in a statement as he ordered a number of actions in response to the Russia’s alleged aggressive harassment of US officials and cyber operations targeting the US election.

The executive order issued by Obama provided additional authority for responding to certain cyber activity that seeks to interfere with or undermine US election processes and institutions, or those of its allies or partners.

Obama said these actions are not the sum total of US response to Russia’s aggressive activities. “We will continue to take a variety of actions at a time and place of our choosing, some of which will not be publicised,” he said.

Obama said the US and its allies around the world must work together to oppose Russia’s efforts to undermine established international norms of behaviour, and interfere with democratic governance.

Meanwhile in Moscow, Putin in response to Obama’s sanctions said Russia “will not create problems for American diplomats.

We will not expel anyone”. “According to international practice, Russia has all the grounds for a comparable response,” Putin said shortly after Russian Foreign Ministry sought his approval for a tit-for-tat move.

Putin said “Russian diplomats returning to the motherland will spend their holidays with friends and family, at home.”