04:48Netherlands: Dutch DefMin points finger at GRU for alleged OPCW cyber-attacks
The Dutch Security Service presented evidence of its investigation after it disrupted an alleged cyber-attack which they suspect was carried out by Russian nationals working for the Main Directorate of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation (GRU), Dutch Defence Minister Ank Bijleveld-Schouten said in The Hague on Thursday.
"The Dutch cabinet is extremely concerned that the OPCW (Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons) was a target for sabotage by the Russian Military Intelligence Services,” Bijleveld-Schouten said.
Four Russian nationals have been expelled from the Netherlands on suspicion of their involvement in the alleged attack. Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova has since described the accusation as a "big fantasy."
The Defence Minister also said that the activities of the Russian intelligence service in Malaysia "focused on the MH17 investigation and this is a sensitive subject for the Netherlands."
Mandatory Credit: Dutch Ministry of Defence
04:48mandatory credit: dutch ministry of defence
The Dutch Security Service presented evidence of its investigation after it disrupted an alleged cyber-attack which they suspect was carried out by Russian nationals working for the Main Directorate of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation (GRU), Dutch Defence Minister Ank Bijleveld-Schouten said in The Hague on Thursday.
"The Dutch cabinet is extremely concerned that the OPCW (Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons) was a target for sabotage by the Russian Military Intelligence Services,” Bijleveld-Schouten said.
Four Russian nationals have been expelled from the Netherlands on suspicion of their involvement in the alleged attack. Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova has since described the accusation as a "big fantasy."
The Defence Minister also said that the activities of the Russian intelligence service in Malaysia "focused on the MH17 investigation and this is a sensitive subject for the Netherlands."
Mandatory Credit: Dutch Ministry of Defence