US condemns Russian cyber attack against Georgia
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The US condemns Russia’s ‘widespread disruptive cyber attack against Georgia,' carried out in October 2019, the press office of US State Secretary Mike Pompeo said earlier today.
The statement says that the cyber attack by Russian General Staff Main Intelligence Directorate (GRU) ‘directly affected the Georgian population, disrupted operations of several thousand Georgian government and privately-run websites and interrupted the broadcast of at least two major television stations.’
We stand with #Georgia in condemning Russia’s cyber attack against its people and institutions. Russia must immediately cease this behavior in Georgia and elsewhere. The stability of #cyberspace depends on the responsible behavior of all nations. https://t.co/4RnWrSOlBp
— Secretary Pompeo (@SecPompeo) February 20, 2020
This action contradicts Russia’s attempts to claim it is a responsible actor in cyberspace and demonstrates a continuing pattern of reckless Russian GRU cyber operations against a number of countries. These operations aim to sow division, create insecurity, and undermine democratic institutions.
The United States called on Russia to cease this behavior in Georgia and elsewhere.
The stability of cyberspace depends on the responsible behavior of nations. We, together with the international community, will continue our efforts to uphold an international framework of responsible state behavior in cyberspace.”
The US pledged its support to Georgia and its people ‘in enhancing their cybersecurity and countering malicious cyber actors,’ stating that ‘we will offer additional capacity building and technical assistance to help strengthen Georgia’s public institutions and improve its ability to protect itself from these kinds of activities.’