The US expels 35 Russian diplomats, closes 2 Russian compounds
The United States on Thursday expelled 35 Russian diplomats and closed two Russian compounds in New York and Maryland, as well as sanctioning 6 Russian individuals, including the head of Russia’s main intelligence directorate. The Russian diplomats were given 72 hours to leave the United States.
A senior US official claimed the sanctions were taken “in response to a campaign of harassment by Russia against American diplomats in Moscow.” However, Moscow understood them to be the sanctions threatened by President Barack Obama for alleged Russian intelligence interference by hacking in the US presidential in election, which the Kremlin has consistently denied.