Russian spies are allegedly targeting U.K. politicians and other officials, as well as journalists. This was revealed by Leo Docherty, a U.K. politician serving as Parliamentary Under-Secretary of the State of Europe.
He issued a statement in the House of Commons, claiming that the Russian Federal Security Service (FSB). Docherty said that the cyber interference campaign is specifically being conducted by the so-called Star Blizzard.
A man waves the Russian national flag as he arrives at the patriotic concert at the Red square in downtown Moscow ahead the Russia Day on June 11, 2023.
The top British MP explained that this group is "almost certainly" a subordinate of an FSB cyber unit. Here are other alarming details Leo Docherty shared about these Russian spies.
Russian Spies Allegedly Using Cyber Interference to Target UK
According to The Independent UK's latest report, the Star Blizzard group reportedly used its cyber interference campaign to selectively leak and amplify information since 2015.
"I can confirm today that the Russian federal security services, the FSB, is behind a sustained effort to interfere in our democratic processes," confidently said Docherty via The Guardian.
"They have targeted members of this house and the [House of Lords]. They have been targeting civil servants, journalists, and NGOs," he added.
The British official further stated that Russian spies behind the cyber interference also target high-profile entities and individuals.
Leo Docherty warned that these cybercriminals are doing this with a "clear intent" using details they acquired to interfere in private conversations.
This is not the first time that members of the parliament complained about being targeted by spies and other cyber attackers. A similar instance happened in 2019 when Labor's Ben Bradshaw claimed that he had been a target of Russian cyber interference.
Aside from this, the Russian government was also accused of launching a cyberattack campaign against the U.K. parliament; breaching dozens of email accounts owned by members of the parliament and peers.
But, the latest accusation made by Leo Docherty against the Russian Federal Security Service is considered to be the strongest confirmation that the Kremlin is trying to compromise democratic and other political processes in the United Kingdom.
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UK To Impose Sanctions Against Star Blizzard's Members
Great Britain's Minister of State for Europe Leo Docherty speaks at the Conference on Western Balkans at the Federal Foreign Office in Berlin, Germany, on October 21, 2022.
British MPs were informed regarding planned sanctions against the Russian spy group's two members, which were identified by the Foreign Office.
These are Andrey Stanislavovich Korinets (Alexey Doguzhiev) and FSB intelligence officer Ruslan Aleksandrovich Peretyatko.
Foreign Secretary Lord David Cameron said that the attempts of Russian spies to interfere in U.K. politics are truly unacceptable. The official added that they threaten the British democratic processes.
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