themoscowtimes--2020-12-18--Moscow to Target Apolitical Youth on TikTok in 2021 Race – Meduza

Moscow political operatives plan to engage apolitical youth in Russia 's 2021 legislative elections through TikTok , the Meduza news website reported Friday , citing unnamed sources close to the Kremlin .
The popular short-form video app will presumably help Kremlin-backed candidates fend off challengers promoted by opposition figure Alexei Navalny .
In the lead-up to next year 's vote , Navalny has been honing a “ Smart Voting ” strategy that urges supporters to vote for the candidate with the highest chance of unseating pro-Kremlin incumbents .
Spin doctor Dmitry Gusev and his Bakster Group consultancy have , according @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from the Moscow Mayor ’ s Office to promote Kremlin-backed candidates for the State Duma via TikTok .
The reported plan is to convert the candidates ’ slogans into hashtags , with popular Russian TikTokers invited to upload videos using these hashtags .
Gusev was said to have “ sold ” the idea to Moscow ’ s informal campaign office based on his previous TikTok work with Perm Governor Dmitry Makhonin ’ s 2020 campaign .
Meduza reported that the dozens of disparate TikToks associated with Makhonin ’ s gubernatorial race — featuring @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and skateboard tricks — were neither politically nor socially oriented .
“ From an electoral viewpoint , the effect is negative , ” Meduza quoted an unnamed operative who works with a Kremlin constitutional reforms project as saying .
“ But from the viewpoint of client accountability , the indicator is probably not bad.
” Meduza said Gusev confirmed that he was behind Makhonin ’ s TikTok campaign but declined to comment on current contracts , calling any disclosure “ unethical .
”

Moscow political operatives plan to engage apolitical youth in Russia's 2021 legislative elections through TikTok, the Meduza news website reported Friday, citing unnamed sources close to the Kremlin. The popular short-form video app will presumably help Kremlin-backed candidates fend off challengers promoted by opposition figure Alexei Navalny. In the lead-up to next year's vote, Navalny has been honing a “Smart Voting” strategy that urges supporters to vote for the candidate with the highest chance of unseating pro-Kremlin incumbents.
Spin doctor Dmitry Gusev and his Bakster Group consultancy have, according to Meduza, secured a tacit agreement from the Moscow Mayor’s Office to promote Kremlin-backed candidates for the State Duma via TikTok. The reported plan is to convert the candidates’ slogans into hashtags, with popular Russian TikTokers invited to upload videos using these hashtags. Gusev was said to have “sold” the idea to Moscow’s informal campaign office based on his previous TikTok work with Perm Governor Dmitry Makhonin’s 2020 campaign. Meduza reported that the dozens of disparate TikToks associated with Makhonin’s gubernatorial race — featuring photoshopped cats as well as awkward dancing and skateboard tricks — were neither politically nor socially oriented.


themoscowtimes--2020-12-18--Moscow Seeks to Jail Lawmaker Under ‘Multiple Protest’ Law

Galyamina was arrested alongside 140 others this summer for rallying against a package of constitutional amendments which among other changes pave the way for President Vladimir Putin to stay in power until 2036 .
Six months earlier , courts had fined Galyamina for taking part in the summer 2019 street protests over local elections .
Moscow prosecutors have requested a three-year jail sentence for opposition municipal deputy Yulia Galyamina for multiple violations of Russian protest law , Galyamina said Friday .
Galyamina , who tweeted about the state prosecution ’ s request to jail her , has called the criminal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s Tverskoy Court confirmed the requested prison sentence of three years for Galyamina to Interfax .
Russians found guilty of taking part in unauthorized rallies , pickets or marches several times within a six-month period face up to five years in prison .
Three people , including an opposition activist who was released this week after 18 months in jail , have previously been convicted under the controversial law that Putin signed in 2014 .
Another law that Putin signed in May 2020 bans people convicted for multiple protests and other violations @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Galyamina ’ s criminal case nears completion as federal lawmakers race to pass legislation curbing protests and expanding the “ foreign agent ” label in what observers call an effort to restrain Russia ’ s opposition ahead of the 2021 legislative elections .
Putin previously hiked fines for protesting at unsanctioned rallies in 2012 and made demonstrating without permission from the authorities a criminal offense in 2014 after widespread protests against his return to the presidency .

Galyamina was arrested alongside 140 others this summer for rallying against a package of constitutional amendments which among other changes pave the way for President Vladimir Putin to stay in power until 2036. Six months earlier, courts had fined Galyamina for taking part in the summer 2019 street protests over local elections.
Moscow prosecutors have requested a three-year jail sentence for opposition municipal deputy Yulia Galyamina for multiple violations of Russian protest law, Galyamina said Friday.
Galyamina, who tweeted about the state prosecution’s request to jail her, has called the criminal case against her politically motivated.
Moscow’s Tverskoy Court confirmed the requested prison sentence of three years for Galyamina to Interfax.
Russians found guilty of taking part in unauthorized rallies, pickets or marches several times within a six-month period face up to five years in prison.
Three people, including an opposition activist who was released this week after 18 months in jail, have previously been convicted under the controversial law that Putin signed in 2014.
Another law that Putin signed in May 2020 bans people convicted for multiple protests and other violations from running for office in Russia.
Galyamina’s criminal case nears completion as federal lawmakers race to pass legislation curbing protests and expanding the “foreign agent” label in what observers call an effort to restrain Russia’s opposition ahead of the 2021 legislative elections.
Putin previously hiked fines for protesting at unsanctioned rallies in 2012 and made demonstrating without permission from the authorities a criminal offense in 2014 after widespread protests against his return to the presidency.


themoscowtimes--2020-12-18--Russian National Guard to Partner With Belarus Police Amid Protests

The agreement comes amid months of opposition protests in Belarus against the country ’ s disputed presidential election .
Belarus ’ Moscow-backed President Alexander Lukashenko has accused the opposition of being backed by the West and has jailed several opposition figures on charges of attempting to seize power .
The Russian National Guard has signed a cooperation agreement with Belarus ’ police force to combat “ terrorism and extremism , ” Interfax reported Friday .
The two law-enforcement agencies will cooperate on protecting public order and ensuring public safety and the protection of important state facilities and special cargo as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ extremism , Interfax reported , citing the agreement on Belarus ’ legal portal .
The National Guard and the Belarusian interior ministry will also cooperate on state control of arms circulation , ensuring the safety of fuel and energy facilities , protecting important and sensitive facilities and providing support in combating crime .
The agreement `` made in the city of Minsk on Nov. 19 , 2020 '' comes into force from the date of its signing .
Belarus has been gripped by mass protests since the country ’ s Aug. 9 election @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with tens of thousands of Belarusians calling for the longtime leader ’ s resignation .
On Aug. 27 , Russian President Vladimir Putin announced that Russia had formed a reserve of law enforcement officers near the Belarusian border at Lukashenko 's request to be deployed in case “ extremists in Belarus cross a line .
`` But we also agreed that it will not be used until the situation gets out of control and until extremist elements , hiding behind political slogans , cross certain borders , start robbery , start setting fire @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , seize administrative buildings and so on , '' Putin had said .
During the presidents ’ Sept. 14 meeting in Sochi , an agreement was reached for this reserve of Russian security forces to be withdrawn .
The next month , Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin ordered negotiations to begin on a cooperation agreement between the Russian National Guard and the Belarusian interior ministry .

The agreement comes amid months of opposition protests in Belarus against the country’s disputed presidential election. Belarus’ Moscow-backed President Alexander Lukashenko has accused the opposition of being backed by the West and has jailed several opposition figures on charges of attempting to seize power.
The Russian National Guard has signed a cooperation agreement with Belarus’ police force to combat “terrorism and extremism,” Interfax reported Friday.
The two law-enforcement agencies will cooperate on protecting public order and ensuring public safety and the protection of important state facilities and special cargo as well as the fight against terrorism and extremism, Interfax reported, citing the agreement on Belarus’ legal portal.
The National Guard and the Belarusian interior ministry will also cooperate on state control of arms circulation, ensuring the safety of fuel and energy facilities, protecting important and sensitive facilities and providing support in combating crime.
The agreement "made in the city of Minsk on Nov. 19, 2020" comes into force from the date of its signing.
Belarus has been gripped by mass protests since the country’s Aug. 9 election that handed Lukashenko a sixth term, with tens of thousands of Belarusians calling for the longtime leader’s resignation.
On Aug. 27, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced that Russia had formed a reserve of law enforcement officers near the Belarusian border at Lukashenko's request to be deployed in case “extremists in Belarus cross a line.
"But we also agreed that it will not be used until the situation gets out of control and until extremist elements, hiding behind political slogans, cross certain borders, start robbery, start setting fire to cars, at home, banks, seize administrative buildings and so on," Putin had said.
During the presidents’ Sept. 14 meeting in Sochi, an agreement was reached for this reserve of Russian security forces to be withdrawn.
The next month, Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin ordered negotiations to begin on a cooperation agreement between the Russian National Guard and the Belarusian interior ministry.


themoscowtimes--2020-12-18--Navalny Interrogated in Germany Despite ‘Nonexistent’ Russian Criminal Probe

Navalny is undergoing rehabilitation in Berlin after recovering from what European scientists established was poisoning with a Novichok nerve agent in Siberia this summer .
Russia has insisted that Germany provide hard evidence of the poisoning , which it denies , before it opens a criminal probe .
Leading Russian opposition figure Alexei Navalny said German prosecutors interrogated him and his wife at Moscow ’ s request Thursday despite Russian authorities refusing to launch a criminal investigation into his poisoning .
Navalny told his aides in a weekly YouTube show Thursday that German prosecutors had read out a “ standard @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as part of an unspecified international cooperation agreement .
Among other standard questions , they asked Navalny what he ate and which medications he took around the time of his poisoning , as well as whether he suffers from diabetes .
Russian medics , officials and Kremlin-backed media outlets have at various times claimed that Navalny fell violently ill from a metabolic disease , alcohol poisoning or low blood sugar .
“ What ’ s strange is you can interrogate a person as part of a criminal case , but that doesn ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Germans couldn ’ t understand what was happening for a while , ” Navalny said .
The 44-year-old Kremlin critic promised to publish a detailed list of the questions as well as his answers sometime later .
Navalny ’ s interrogation in Germany follows the publication of a joint media investigation that named who it said were the likely culprits of his Aug. 20 poisoning .
“ It was a long procedure , so I skipped all the fun with Putin ’ s press conference , ” he said , referring to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
There , President Vladimir Putin confirmed the investigative media report 's findings of Russia ’ s Federal Security Service ( FSB ) agents tailing Navalny for years and accused him of working with U.S. intelligence agencies .
The authors of Russia ’ s draft law on expanding the “ foreign agent ” label to individuals suggested that Navalny could be branded as one even in Germany .
In August , Russian prosecutors formally asked Germany ’ s justice ministry for Navalny ’ s medical analyses and diagnoses .
Navalny , who was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has vowed to return to Russia as soon as he makes a full recovery .

Navalny is undergoing rehabilitation in Berlin after recovering from what European scientists established was poisoning with a Novichok nerve agent in Siberia this summer. Russia has insisted that Germany provide hard evidence of the poisoning, which it denies, before it opens a criminal probe.
Leading Russian opposition figure Alexei Navalny said German prosecutors interrogated him and his wife at Moscow’s request Thursday despite Russian authorities refusing to launch a criminal investigation into his poisoning.
Navalny told his aides in a weekly YouTube show Thursday that German prosecutors had read out a “standard” questionnaire forwarded by their Russian colleagues as part of an unspecified international cooperation agreement.
Among other standard questions, they asked Navalny what he ate and which medications he took around the time of his poisoning, as well as whether he suffers from diabetes. Russian medics, officials and Kremlin-backed media outlets have at various times claimed that Navalny fell violently ill from a metabolic disease, alcohol poisoning or low blood sugar.
“What’s strange is you can interrogate a person as part of a criminal case, but that doesn’t exist. That’s why the Germans couldn’t understand what was happening for a while,” Navalny said.
The 44-year-old Kremlin critic promised to publish a detailed list of the questions as well as his answers sometime later.
Navalny’s interrogation in Germany follows the publication of a joint media investigation that named who it said were the likely culprits of his Aug. 20 poisoning.
“It was a long procedure, so I skipped all the fun with Putin’s press conference,” he said, referring to the Russian president’s end-of-year presser.
There, President Vladimir Putin confirmed the investigative media report's findings of Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB) agents tailing Navalny for years and accused him of working with U.S. intelligence agencies. The authors of Russia’s draft law on expanding the “foreign agent” label to individuals suggested that Navalny could be branded as one even in Germany.
In August, Russian prosecutors formally asked Germany’s justice ministry for Navalny’s medical analyses and diagnoses. Navalny, who was airlifted to Germany in a coma, has vowed to return to Russia as soon as he makes a full recovery.


themoscowtimes--2020-12-18--Rescuers Find Missing Children in Caves Outside Moscow

A group of children that went missing in the caves near the Moscow region city of Domodedovo were found alive @ @ @ @ @ Interfax reported .
On Thursday morning a group of 10 people , eight of whom @ @ @ @ @ 12 , entered the Syanovskiye cave system .
They were supposed to return around 7:00 @ @ @ @ @ but never did .
Upon arriving at the site , the rescuers found the instructor @ @ @ @ @ who said he lost the group during orienteering classes .
The Emergency Situations Ministry confirmed @ @ @ @ @ children were found unharmed .
The Syanovskiye caves , also known as Syany , is @ @ @ @ @ near Moscow from the Novlesky caves group .
The passages ’ total known length is @ @ @ @ @ one of the largest known cave systems in Russia .
The entrances to the caves @ @ @ @ @ the incident , Interfax reported .

A group of children that went missing in the caves near the Moscow region city of Domodedovo were found alive by rescuers late Thursday, Interfax reported.
On Thursday morning a group of 10 people, eight of whom were children ages 9 to 12, entered the Syanovskiye cave system. They were supposed to return around 7:00 p.m. the same day, but never did.
Upon arriving at the site, the rescuers found the instructor who led the tour, who said he lost the group during orienteering classes.
The Emergency Situations Ministry confirmed around 9:30 p.m. that the children were found unharmed.
The Syanovskiye caves, also known as Syany, is a system of artificial quarries near Moscow from the Novlesky caves group. The passages’ total known length is 19 kilometers, making it one of the largest known cave systems in Russia.
The entrances to the caves have been blocked off following the incident, Interfax reported.


themoscowtimes--2020-12-18--Finland’s Nordea Bank Pulls Out of Russia

Finland ’ s Nordea Bank plans to permanently cease its activities in Russia , the bank ’ s Russian branch @ @ @ @ @ `` will concentrate its activities in the Scandinavian region , therefore it was decided to @ @ @ @ @ , including the Russian branch , '' its statement said .
In the third quarter @ @ @ @ @ in the Interfax-100 rating with assets of 53.2 billion rubles ( $ 72.5 million ) @ @ @ @ @ market in 2006 by purchasing Orgresbank , which was later renamed Nordea Bank .
In @ @ @ @ @ the top 30 largest credit institutions in Russia , but in 2015 it began to @ @ @ @ @ abandoning retail lending in favor of developing a corporate and investment block , Interfax reported @

Finland’s Nordea Bank plans to permanently cease its activities in Russia, the bank’s Russian branch announced Thursday.
Nordea Bank "will concentrate its activities in the Scandinavian region, therefore it was decided to partially close the international network, including the Russian branch," its statement said.
In the third quarter of 2020 Nordea ranked 95th in the Interfax-100 rating with assets of 53.2 billion rubles ($72.5 million).
Nordea entered the Russian market in 2006 by purchasing Orgresbank, which was later renamed Nordea Bank. In 2014 the bank was among the top 30 largest credit institutions in Russia, but in 2015 it began to cut back on business, abandoning retail lending in favor of developing a corporate and investment block, Interfax reported.


themoscowtimes--2020-12-18--En+ Denies Sanctioned Russian Tycoon in Violation of Divestment Deal

U.S. lawmakers raised concerns about Deripaska ’ s influence over aluminum giant Rusal and its parent company En+ early in 2019 , when the U.S. Treasury lifted sanctions in exchange for Deripaska reducing his stake in the firm .
Washington had blacklisted Deripaska , 52 , and other oligarchs in 2018 because of their ties to the Kremlin and its “ malign activity ” worldwide .
European officials have tipped off the United States that sanctioned Russian aluminum tycoon Oleg Deripaska continued to pull the strings at companies he had divested from , Bloomberg said in a report that has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ European officials ' assessment earlier in 2020 concluded that Deripaska “ retained significant day-to-day influence ” over Rusal and En+ , and used their staff and resources to “ support his personal business interests and the political agenda of the Kremlin around the world , ” Bloomberg reported .
The report alleged that earlier in 2020 Deripaska instructed executives to press western governments and institutions to block Chinese aluminum from western markets , mount a disinformation campaign against China in Africa and reignite a campaign against longtime rival and Russia ’ s richest @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and U.S. officials confirmed that the information was shared with the relevant U.S. government agencies .
The U.S. Treasury has ultimate say whether Deripaska ran afoul of the unprecedented 2018 divestment deal .
En+ said it “ strongly refutes ” Bloomberg ’ s allegations as “ false ” and without “ factual basis.
” Rusal called the report “ groundless and untrue.
” Deripaska ’ s U.S. lawyer Tom Clare said the oligarch “ made monumental efforts to divest from the companies pursuant to the U.S. government ’ s directive , ” Bloomberg @ @ @ @ @ @ @ board of directors continues to have full confidence in the group ’ s robust compliance procedures , ” Bloomberg quoted law firm Schillings , which represents En+ , as saying .

U.S. lawmakers raised concerns about Deripaska’s influence over aluminum giant Rusal and its parent company En+ early in 2019, when the U.S. Treasury lifted sanctions in exchange for Deripaska reducing his stake in the firm. Washington had blacklisted Deripaska, 52, and other oligarchs in 2018 because of their ties to the Kremlin and its “malign activity” worldwide.
European officials have tipped off the United States that sanctioned Russian aluminum tycoon Oleg Deripaska continued to pull the strings at companies he had divested from, Bloomberg said in a report that has since been denied by the firms.
European officials' assessment earlier in 2020 concluded that Deripaska “retained significant day-to-day influence” over Rusal and En+, and used their staff and resources to “support his personal business interests and the political agenda of the Kremlin around the world,” Bloomberg reported.
The report alleged that earlier in 2020 Deripaska instructed executives to press western governments and institutions to block Chinese aluminum from western markets, mount a disinformation campaign against China in Africa and reignite a campaign against longtime rival and Russia’s richest man Vladimir Potanin.
Bloomberg said European and U.S. officials confirmed that the information was shared with the relevant U.S. government agencies. The U.S. Treasury has ultimate say whether Deripaska ran afoul of the unprecedented 2018 divestment deal.
En+ said it “strongly refutes” Bloomberg’s allegations as “false” and without “factual basis.” Rusal called the report “groundless and untrue.”
Deripaska’s U.S. lawyer Tom Clare said the oligarch “made monumental efforts to divest from the companies pursuant to the U.S. government’s directive,” Bloomberg reported.
“[En+] independent board of directors continues to have full confidence in the group’s robust compliance procedures,” Bloomberg quoted law firm Schillings, which represents En+, as saying.


themoscowtimes--2020-12-18--NGO Accuses Europe’s Home Improvement Stores of Buying Illegal Russian Lumber

More than 20 European companies were said to have bought 30 million euros ( $ 36.7 million ) worth of suspect wood from companies associated with timber magnate Alexander Pudovkin between January 2015 and April 2020 .
European home improvement stores continued to sell illegally logged wood from the Russian taiga after the alleged smuggler ’ s arrest back home , the British environmental nonprofit Earthsight said in a report Wednesday .
The buyers of more than 100,000 metric tons of lumber included big chains like Leroy Merlin , Castorama and Mr. Bricolage from Germany , France , Estonia and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Earthsight alleges that Pudovkin and his BM Group used bribes and corrupt deals to plunder an area of virgin forest the size of London .
Russian security services arrested Pudovkin in 2019 and charged him with bribery .
“ Many importers continued to purchase wood after the scandal broke – even after Pudovkin ’ s arrest , ” the organization said .
“ Some even increased their orders.
” Pudovkin ’ s Asia Les ( Russian for “ Asia Forest ” ) sawmill firm allegedly illegally logged 600,000 cubic meters of wood , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Lawson accused Pudovkin ’ s European consumers of “ aiding and abetting the destruction of the world ’ s precious forest.
” “ Governments must act urgently to prevent this , both by passing new laws and better enforcing existing ones .
They must stop hiding behind these flawed green labels , ” he said in a statement .
Pudovkin ’ s BM Group and three affiliates were said to have exported almost 190 million euros ( $ 230 million ) worth of wood around the world over the past five years .

More than 20 European companies were said to have bought 30 million euros ($36.7 million) worth of suspect wood from companies associated with timber magnate Alexander Pudovkin between January 2015 and April 2020.
European home improvement stores continued to sell illegally logged wood from the Russian taiga after the alleged smuggler’s arrest back home, the British environmental nonprofit Earthsight said in a report Wednesday.
The buyers of more than 100,000 metric tons of lumber included big chains like Leroy Merlin, Castorama and Mr. Bricolage from Germany, France, Estonia and other countries, the nonprofit said.
Earthsight alleges that Pudovkin and his BM Group used bribes and corrupt deals to plunder an area of virgin forest the size of London. Russian security services arrested Pudovkin in 2019 and charged him with bribery.
“Many importers continued to purchase wood after the scandal broke – even after Pudovkin’s arrest,” the organization said. “Some even increased their orders.”
Pudovkin’s Asia Les (Russian for “Asia Forest”) sawmill firm allegedly illegally logged 600,000 cubic meters of wood, prosecutors had said.
Earthsight director Sam Lawson accused Pudovkin’s European consumers of “aiding and abetting the destruction of the world’s precious forest.”
“Governments must act urgently to prevent this, both by passing new laws and better enforcing existing ones. They must stop hiding behind these flawed green labels,” he said in a statement.
Pudovkin’s BM Group and three affiliates were said to have exported almost 190 million euros ($230 million) worth of wood around the world over the past five years.


themoscowtimes--2020-12-19--US planning to close last consulates in Russia

Donald Trump 's outgoing administration is planning to close the two remaining US consulates in Russia , the State Department confirmed Saturday , as President-elect Joe Biden prepares to take office amid high tensions with Moscow .
The US will close its consulate in the far eastern city of Vladivostok and suspend operations at its post in Yekaterinburg , a department spokesperson told AFP .
The decision followed consultation with Ambassador John Sullivan and was part of `` efforts to ensure the safe and secure operation of the U.S. diplomatic mission in the Russian Federation , '' the spokesperson said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ letter to Congress this month said the move was a response to `` ongoing staffing challenges for the US Mission in Russia in the wake of the 2017 Russian-imposed personnel cap on the US Mission . ''
Ten diplomats assigned to the consulates will reportedly be relocated to the US embassy in Moscow , while 33 local staff will lose their jobs .
The State Department did not confirm the numbers involved but said the `` resulting realignment of personnel at U.S. Embassy Moscow will allow us to advance our foreign policy interests @ @ @ @ @ @ @ safe manner possible .
`` No action related to the Russian consulates in the United States is planned , '' the spokesperson added .
The closures would leave the embassy in Moscow as the United States ' last diplomatic mission in Russia .
Moscow ordered the closure of the US consulate in St Petersburg in March 2018 during a diplomatic spat sparked by the poisoning of Sergei Skripal on British soil .
It was unclear whether the closures would happen before January 20 , when President-elect Biden takes office .
Secretary of State @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` pretty clearly '' behind a devastating cyberattack on several US government agencies that security experts said could allow attackers unfettered access to critical IT systems and electric power grids .
Yohannes Abraham , executive director for the Biden transition team , said the hack was of `` great concern '' and that the Biden administration would meet any cyberattacks with a response inflicting `` substantial cost . ''
Russia has denied any involvement in the incident .

Donald Trump's outgoing administration is planning to close the two remaining U.S. consulates in Russia, the State Department confirmed Saturday, as President-elect Joe Biden prepares to take office amid high tensions with Moscow.
The U.S. will close its consulate in the Far Eastern city of Vladivostok and suspend operations at its post in Yekaterinburg, a department spokesperson told AFP.
The decision followed consultation with Ambassador John Sullivan and was part of "efforts to ensure the safe and secure operation of the U.S. diplomatic mission in the Russian Federation," the spokesperson said.
CNN reported that a State Department letter to Congress this month said the move was a response to "ongoing staffing challenges for the U.S. Mission in Russia in the wake of the 2017 Russian-imposed personnel cap on the U.S. Mission."
Ten diplomats assigned to the consulates will reportedly be relocated to the US embassy in Moscow, while 33 local staff will lose their jobs.
The State Department did not confirm the numbers involved but said the "resulting realignment of personnel at U.S. Embassy Moscow will allow us to advance our foreign policy interests in Russia in the most effective and safe manner possible.
"No action related to the Russian consulates in the United States is planned," the spokesperson added.
The closures would leave the embassy in Moscow as the United States' last diplomatic mission in Russia.
Moscow ordered the closure of the U.S. consulate in St. Petersburg in March 2018 during a diplomatic spat sparked by the poisoning of Sergei Skripal on British soil.
It was unclear whether the closures would happen before Jan. 20, when President-elect Biden takes office.
Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said Friday that Russia was "pretty clearly" behind a devastating cyberattack on several U.S. government agencies that security experts said could allow attackers unfettered access to critical IT systems and electric power grids.
Yohannes Abraham, executive director for the Biden transition team, said the hack was of "great concern" and that the Biden administration would meet any cyberattacks with a response inflicting "substantial cost."
Russia has denied any involvement in the incident.


themoscowtimes--2020-12-19--Bulgaria Expels Russian Military Attache for Spying

Bulgarian prosecutors said that from 2017 the diplomat engaged in spying activities , collecting military information , including about the numbers of US troops deployed on Bulgarian territory during exercises '' The foreign ministry of the Republic of Bulgaria declared persona non grata a diplomat from the Russian embassy in Sofia and gave him 72 hours to leave the country due to activities incompatible with his diplomatic status , '' the foreign ministry said in a statement .
It was the sixth case of a Russian diplomat or embassy official being expelled by what was once Moscow 's staunchest Soviet-era @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Bulgaria said Friday that it would expel a Russian military attache -- the latest in several such cases -- after prosecutors opened a probe against him for spying on US troops in the EU and NATO member state .
The aim was to transfer this information to Russian military intelligence , prosecutors said , adding that the diplomat also paid a Bulgarian official with access to classified information to provide him with the sensitive data .
The spying row has soured relations between the two former allies , which have maintained their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ even after the fall of the communist regime in 1989 .
Neither the foreign ministry nor the prosecution revealed the rank of the diplomat but the Russian embassy in Sofia said in a social media post that the measure concerned their chief military , air and naval attache .
The embassy called the expulsion `` groundless '' , adding that it `` does not contribute to the development of dialogue between our countries in the military sphere , as well as the strengthening of stability in the Black Sea region . ''
Russia @ @ @ @ @ @ @ take retaliatory measures .
Since 2008 , Bulgaria has been home to a joint-use US military training ground in Novo Selo , in the east of the country , for between 2,500 and 5,000 troops .
Bulgaria has hosted a number of US-led and NATO exercises over the past years .
US troops also use two Bulgarian air bases , Bezmer and Graf Ignatievo , as well as a storage site near Aytos in the east .
The US embassy in Bulgaria issued a statement on Friday backing the expulsion announcement .
`` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ seen too many examples of Russian officials carrying out aggressive actions , from espionage in Bulgaria to poisoning opponents both at home and abroad .
Bulgaria is a strong NATO ally and partner and has an unalienable right to defend its sovereignty , '' it said .
The expulsion on Friday coincided with the wrapping up of a three-day a visit to Bulgaria of NATO Special Operations Commander , Lieutenant General Eric Wendt .

Bulgarian prosecutors said that from 2017 the diplomat engaged in spying activities, collecting military information, including about the numbers of US troops deployed on Bulgarian territory during exercises
"The foreign ministry of the Republic of Bulgaria declared persona non grata a diplomat from the Russian embassy in Sofia and gave him 72 hours to leave the country due to activities incompatible with his diplomatic status," the foreign ministry said in a statement.
It was the sixth case of a Russian diplomat or embassy official being expelled by what was once Moscow's staunchest Soviet-era satellite over spying allegations since October 2019.
Bulgaria said Friday that it would expel a Russian military attache -- the latest in several such cases -- after prosecutors opened a probe against him for spying on US troops in the EU and NATO member state.
The aim was to transfer this information to Russian military intelligence, prosecutors said, adding that the diplomat also paid a Bulgarian official with access to classified information to provide him with the sensitive data.
The spying row has soured relations between the two former allies, which have maintained their close cultural, historical and economic ties even after the fall of the communist regime in 1989.
Neither the foreign ministry nor the prosecution revealed the rank of the diplomat but the Russian embassy in Sofia said in a social media post that the measure concerned their chief military, air and naval attache.
The embassy called the expulsion "groundless", adding that it "does not contribute to the development of dialogue between our countries in the military sphere, as well as the strengthening of stability in the Black Sea region."
Russia also said it reserved the right to take retaliatory measures.
Since 2008, Bulgaria has been home to a joint-use US military training ground in Novo Selo, in the east of the country, for between 2,500 and 5,000 troops.
Bulgaria has hosted a number of US-led and NATO exercises over the past years.
US troops also use two Bulgarian air bases, Bezmer and Graf Ignatievo, as well as a storage site near Aytos in the east.
The US embassy in Bulgaria issued a statement on Friday backing the expulsion announcement.
"We have in recent weeks and months seen too many examples of Russian officials carrying out aggressive actions, from espionage in Bulgaria to poisoning opponents both at home and abroad. Bulgaria is a strong NATO ally and partner and has an unalienable right to defend its sovereignty," it said.
The expulsion on Friday coincided with the wrapping up of a three-day a visit to Bulgaria of NATO Special Operations Commander, Lieutenant General Eric Wendt.


themoscowtimes--2020-12-19--Pompeo Blames Russia for Massive US Cyberattack

Russia was `` pretty clearly '' behind a devastating cyberattack on several U.S. government agencies that also hit targets worldwide , Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said .
Microsoft said late Thursday that it had notified more than 40 customers hit by the malware , which security experts say could allow attackers unfettered network access to key government systems and electric power grids and other utilities .
`` There was a significant effort to use a piece of third-party software to essentially embed code inside of U.S. government systems , '' Pompeo told The Mark Levin Show on Friday .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and I think it 's the case that now we can say pretty clearly that it was the Russians that engaged in this activity . ''
Roughly 80 percent of the affected customers are located in the United States , Microsoft president Brad Smith said in a blog post , with victims also found in Belgium , Britain , Canada , Israel , Mexico , Spain and the United Arab Emirates .
`` It 's certain that the number and location of victims will keep growing , '' Smith said , echoing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on the serious threat from the attack .
`` This is not 'espionage as usual , ' even in the digital age , '' Smith said .
`` Instead , it represents an act of recklessness that created a serious technological vulnerability for the United States and the world . ''
John Dickson of the security firm Denim Group said many private sector companies which could be vulnerable were scrambling to shore up security , even to the point of considering rebuilding servers and other equipment .
`` Everyone is in damage assessment @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' Dickson said .
`` It 's a severe body blow to confidence both in government and critical infrastructure . ''
The threat comes from a long-running attack which is believed to have injected malware into computer networks using enterprise management network software made by the Texas-based IT company SolarWinds , with the hallmarks of a nation-state attack .
James Lewis , vice president at the Center for Strategic and International Studies , said the attack may end up being the worst to hit the United States , eclipsing the 2014 hack of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Chinese infiltration .
`` The scale is daunting .
We do n't know what has been taken so that is one of the tasks for forensics , '' Lewis said .
`` We also do n't know what 's been left behind .
The normal practice is to leave something behind so they can get back in , in the future . ''

Russia was "pretty clearly" behind a devastating cyberattack on several U.S. government agencies that also hit targets worldwide, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said.
Microsoft said late Thursday that it had notified more than 40 customers hit by the malware, which security experts say could allow attackers unfettered network access to key government systems and electric power grids and other utilities.
"There was a significant effort to use a piece of third-party software to essentially embed code inside of U.S. government systems," Pompeo told The Mark Levin Show on Friday.
"This was a very significant effort, and I think it's the case that now we can say pretty clearly that it was the Russians that engaged in this activity."
Roughly 80 percent of the affected customers are located in the United States, Microsoft president Brad Smith said in a blog post, with victims also found in Belgium, Britain, Canada, Israel, Mexico, Spain and the United Arab Emirates.
"It's certain that the number and location of victims will keep growing," Smith said, echoing concerns voiced this week by U.S. officials on the serious threat from the attack.
"This is not 'espionage as usual,' even in the digital age," Smith said.
"Instead, it represents an act of recklessness that created a serious technological vulnerability for the United States and the world."
John Dickson of the security firm Denim Group said many private sector companies which could be vulnerable were scrambling to shore up security, even to the point of considering rebuilding servers and other equipment.
"Everyone is in damage assessment now because it's so big," Dickson said. "It's a severe body blow to confidence both in government and critical infrastructure."
The threat comes from a long-running attack which is believed to have injected malware into computer networks using enterprise management network software made by the Texas-based IT company SolarWinds, with the hallmarks of a nation-state attack.
James Lewis, vice president at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, said the attack may end up being the worst to hit the United States, eclipsing the 2014 hack of US government personnel records in a suspected Chinese infiltration.
"The scale is daunting. We don't know what has been taken so that is one of the tasks for forensics," Lewis said.
"We also don't know what's been left behind. The normal practice is to leave something behind so they can get back in, in the future."