German Chancellor Angela Merkel accused Russia of mounting what she called an “outrageous” cyberattack on her email account and floated the possibility of further sanctions against Moscow.
“There is a hybrid warfare strategy by Russia that we can’t ignore that includes cyber, disorientation, fact manipulation,” Merkel said Wednesday during government questions in the lower house of parliament. She was responding to a lawmaker’s query about a recent media report blaming Moscow for a 2015 hacking of the computers of some German legislators, including her own.
“Of course it hinders a trustworthy cooperation,” Merkel said. While the government is trying to track down those responsible, it reserves the right to “take measures” against Russia, she added.
Germany’s relationship with Moscow has been tense in recent times. In December, Merkel’s government expelled two Russian embassy staff in response to what it said was a lack of cooperation by Moscow in the investigation of a contract killing of a Georgian man in a Berlin city park.
“Still, I will work for a good relationship with Russia because I think there’s a good reason to continue these diplomatic efforts,” Merkel said. “But of course it doesn’t make it easy.”
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