Russia demands US explanation on cyberattacks targeting online voting platform

Fresh tensions have erupted between Moscow and Washington after Russia accused the United States of being behind cyberattacks during last week’s parliamentary elections.

The Russian embassy in the US has demanded a detailed explanation from American authorities regarding the reported cyberattacks which Moscow says were detected and conducted from American territory on the Russian remote electoral system.

“We note that during the recent elections, the Central Election Commission of Russia faced an unprecedented number of cyberattacks. 50% of them were detected to be conducted precisely from the territory of the United States," said the embassy.

The Russian diplomatic mission further noted that the cyberattacks were orchestrated “to discredit our electoral system”.

Russia said Saturday it recorded cyberattacks targeting the federal platform for remote online voting, warning that efforts to interfere in the elections were still alive.

The elections commission said it had recorded “three cyberattacks” on its resources for remote online voting “from foreign countries.”

The attacks “resulted in temporary delays of access to relevant websites,” the commission said.

Ruling party wins Russia's parliamentary elections

Russia

The statement published on the Russian diplomatic mission in the United States’ Facebook account also slammed US accusations of “non-transparent” parliamentary elections in Russia.

The Russian embassy added, ”We have taken note of the groundless accusations of the US Department of State on the alleged ‘non-free and non-transparent’ elections to the State Duma of the Russian Federation, which took place on September 17-19.”

The statement emphasized that any irregularities could not have an impact on the overall election outcome, adding, “the expression of the will of the people took place in full compliance with the provisions of domestic legislation and the norms of international law.”   

Kremlin hails 'open, honest' vote as United Russia wins majority in parliamentary polls

The Kremlin has hailed weekend parliamentary elections as open, competitive and honest, in response to vote rigging allegations by the opposition.

The ruling United Russia party has won the majority in the State Duma (the lower house of parliament) by gaining 49.83 percent of the total vote.

Moreover, four other parties have managed to make it into the Russian parliament: the Communist Party, A Just Russia, the Liberal Democrats, and New People. 

President Vladimir Putin on Monday thanked Russians for their trust, during a televised meeting with Central Election Commission chief Ella Pamfilova.

“I would like to address special words of gratitude to the citizens of Russia (and) thank you for your trust, dear friends," said Putin.

Russians voters also cast their ballots for the heads of nine Russian regions and 39 regional parliaments.

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