UK says Russia’s intelligence service behind sustained attempts to meddle in British democracy

By SYLVIA HUI
Associated Press

LONDON (AP) — Britain’s government says Russia’s intelligence services have targeted high-profile British politicians, civil servants and journalists with cyberespionage and “malicious cyberactivity” as part of sustained attempts to interfere in U.K. political processes. The Foreign Office says Russia’s FSB agency was responsible for a range of cyberespionage operations in the U.K. That included targeting British parliamentarians from multiple parties and “high-profile individuals and entities,” and selectively leaking and amplifying sensitive information to serve Russian interests. The Foreign Office says it imposed sanctions on two people for their involvement in the so-called spear-phishing operations. The Russian ambassador to the U.K. has also been summoned to the Foreign Office.