Tag Archives: Russia

Facebook Bans Suspicious Accounts

Following the banning of 32 accounts in late July with suspected connections to Russia, Facebook removed an additional 652 accounts, groups and pages that it identified as exhibiting “coordinated inauthentic behavior.” That behavior included the sharing of political material.

The banned accounts were linked not only to Russia, but what was a surprise, also to Iran.
The 32 accounts banned in July were generally engaged in efforts to influence the up and coming November mid-term elections. The 632 additional fake accounts were focused more on influencing US foreign policy, and regional politics in the Middle East.

Facebook is not the only internet site where foreign entities go to influence the US voting public. Twitter suspended 284 accounts for “coordinated manipulation,” with many of those accounts sourced to Iran. Microsoft announced they saw a new Russian practice to copy conservative US websites, perhaps as a component of a spy campaign.

“There’s a lot we don’t know yet,” CEO Mark Zuckerberg said.

“You’re going to see people try to abuse the services in every way possible … including now nation states,” he said. He described the deception campaigns as “sophisticated and well-funded efforts that aren’t going to stop.”

US Expands Sanctions on Russia

The Obama administration angered Putin and the Kremlin by sanctioning 34 additional individuals and entities for assisting Russian and Ukrainian companies to avoid US penalties and other punishments.

The expansion of the sanctions will help to “maintain the efficacy of existing sanctions” which were put in place in reaction to the Russian annexation of the Crimea last year and for the support that Russian has given to eastern Ukrainian separatists.

Fourteen of the 34 are connected to “serious and sustained evasion,” or are divisions of firms already on the sanctioned list. The treasury department said that six separatists and two ex-government officials from the Ukraine are “complicit” in corruption, or in weakening the Ukrainian government. US citizens are restricted from doing business with those on this list, and any US assets held by these entities are now frozen.

The new sanctions match those put in place by America’s allies and demonstrate Washington’s “unwavering resolve to pressure Russia to respect the security and sovereignty of Ukraine,” John Smith, the acting sanction boss of the treasury department said.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov responded to the US move:

“This is a continuation of the unfriendly line against Russia that runs counter to logic, ” he said.

Three US Wines Banned From Russian Market

The Russian agency which oversees consumer rights, protection and human well-being, known as the Rospotrebnadzor, banned three different types of US-made wines after examining them for safety.

The three banned wines are Crane Lake Cellars Crane Lake Moscato, Geyser Peak Winery’s Geyser Peak Merlot, and the Gnarly Head Chardonnay from the Delicato Family Vineyards.

In a statement issued by the Rospotrebnadzor they said that after their investigation of the three wines they found high levels of phthalates in the Chardonnay, and both the Moscato and Merlot had unacceptable levels of phthalates and bifenazate, a pesticide.

“Phthalates are the first class of danger according to the sanitary and toxicological indicators, and can cause functional and other organic changes in the central and peripheral nervous system, as well as oncological illnesses, and fertility problems in both men and women,” the Rospotrebnadzor stated.

Over the last few months the Rospotrebnadzor has banned other foods from western countries, causing some to wonder if the bans are not entirely over safety concerns.

“Some observers see as a politically motivated move targeted at imports from countries that slapped sanctions on Russia over its support for separatists in Ukraine,” the Moscow Times stated.

Russia Joins North Korea to Condemn “The Interview”

Spokesman for the Russian foreign ministry Alexander Lukashevich condemned the United States on Thursday for permitting the release of Sony Pictures raunchy comedy “The Interview.”

After Sony was hacked by an unknown entity, but most likely North Korea, the threat of further cyberattacks convinced the giant entertainment company to shelve the film to protect their interests. As a result of that decision Sony was inundated with criticism, including from President Obama, that caving into threats was not the way the United States, the world’s symbol of freedom and free speech, should respond. Sony relented and the film, an essentially low-brow, expletive not deleted, sexually suggestive trashy comedy became an ironic symbol of free-speech which opened in theaters across the country on Christmas Day.

North Korea already voiced its displeasure, insulting President Obama in the crudest language, a bit reminiscent of the movie they condemned. Now Russia is adding its angry voice to the chorus.

“The very idea of the film is so aggressive and scandalous that the reaction of the North Korean side… is completely understandable,” explained Lukashevich, referring to the film’s story which involves the assassination of the North Korean dictator Kim Jung Un.

“We believe that the threats of revenge and calls on other countries to condemn North Korea voiced in the United States are absolutely counterproductive and dangerous,” he added, adding that the escalation of tensions should be avoided.

Putin Threatens to Retaliate to Additional Western Sanctions

The Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov said on Saturday that his country was prepared to respond in kind to any additional sanctions that the US imposes on Russia.

The US Congress passed a law mandating restrictions on Russian weapons companies and investors in high-tech oil projects which is now waiting for President Obama’s signature to become operational. The new sanctions are a further response to Russia’s annexation of Crimea from Ukraine last March, and their support of pro-Russian rebels in eastern Ukraine.

“We will not be able to leave that without an answer,” Russia’s Interfax news agency quoted Ryabkov as saying.

Russia has consistently denied supporting the rebels with arms or otherwise but that has not prevented the west, including the US and the EU, from imposing economic sanctions in increasing severity on large companies as well as individuals.

Russia has already reacted to past sanctions by restricting the importation of food from a wide range of Western countries. Russia responded with harsh words to the latest congressional action, the Ukraine Freedom Support Act. The Act mandates further sanctions, to which Russia responded by saying that the law will “destroy the carcass of cooperation” between the US and Russia.