US Attorney's Office accuses Russin of voting for a vote

Stand: 09:12 | Reading time: 3 minutes

WASHINGTON (AP) – Virginia's attorney general has charged a Russian woman with alleged interference, including in the upcoming congressional elections.

C & # 39; is a 44-year-old St. Petersburg woman named Jelena Chusjajnowa, Friday announced the Justice Department. Virginia District Attorney General Zachary Terwilliger said, "The strategic goal of this so-called conspiracy that continues today is to sow discord in the political system and undermine trust in our institutions. democratic. "

Chusjajnowa reportedly managed the million-dollar budget of a project called "Lakhta", which, according to the Justice Department, allegedly carried out "campaigns of influence" in the United States, in EU Member States and Ukraine. The stated goal of the project funded by a Russian oligarch was an "information war" against the United States.

US security agencies are convinced that Russia has intervened in the 2016 US presidential election and that such attempts will continue. US President Donald Trump said Friday (local time) in Scottsdale, Arizona that the charges against the Russian had nothing to do with his election campaign at the time.

The Ministry of Justice said the people involved in the project had hidden their Russian origins and created thousands of e-mail and social media accounts that seemed to be run by Americans. These stories created and reinforced polarizing social and political content. In addition, during the 2016 US elections and in the upcoming congressional elections, candidates were recruited for or against certain candidates. Some of the social media accounts had tens of thousands of followers and tens of thousands of messages.

A wide range of controversial issues such as arms control, immigration, or Trump government decisions have been addressed, the ministry said in a statement. Among other things, the "conspiracy members" had to create tension by supporting radical groups and "exacerbate the conflict between minorities and the rest of the population".

The Ministry of Justice stated that the prosecution had not alleged that Chusjajnowa or other people involved in the project had managed to influence the outcome of an election. In addition, do not badume that Americans have been involved deliberately.

The ministry praised "the extraordinary collaboration" of social media companies such as Facebook and Twitter with investigators. Facebook and Twitter have been accused of lack of control in connection with alleged attempts at Russian influence during the 2016 US presidential election. Both companies have since closed many suspicious accounts.

In July, the US special prosecutor, Robert Mueller, filed a complaint against twelve suspected Russian military intelligence hackers. They are accused of intervening in the 2016 US presidential election with computer attacks against American Democrats and Donald Trump's campaign opponent Hillary Clinton's campaign camp.

Mueller has been investigating for months Russia's intervention in the US presidential elections. He determined in this course whether the candidate's camp of the time, Trump, knew or even was involved. Trump rejects him regularly and talks about "witch hunt".

The US intelligence coordinator's office on Friday issued a joint statement by US security officials: "We are concerned about the ongoing campaigns of Russia, China and other foreign actors, including Iran." to influence public opinion and government policy. "These activities could also be aimed at influencing the perceptions and decisions of voters in the 2018 and 2020 US elections."

Opinion of the US Department of Justice

US Security Agency Notice

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