Georgia thanks EU for condemning Russian cyber attack
High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice-President of European Commission Josep Borrell released a statement on behalf of the European Union yesterday. Photo: Nino Alavidze/Agenda.ge
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Georgian Foreign Minister David Zalkaliani has thanked High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice-President of European Commission Josep Borrell for condemning Russia’s widespread cyber attack against Georgia back in October 2019.
Thank you to @JosepBorrellF The impact of cyberattacks can only be minimized by recognizing the importance of, and strengthening cyber resilience of each country. https://t.co/E0AfJWbiL1
— David Zalkaliani (@DZalkaliani) February 21, 2020
Josep Borrell released a statement on behalf of the European Union yesterday, calling everyone “to promote and conduct responsible behaviour in cyberspace”.
He said the EU and its member states condemn the cyber attack and will continue to assist Georgia in increasing its cyber resilience.
We are concerned about the increase of irresponsible and destabilising behaviour in cyberspace and will continue to address the challenges that cyberspace poses both internally as well as to our foreign and security policy”, Borrell has stated.
The Georgian Foreign Ministry announced yesterday that Russian military intelligence service - GRU - stands behind the "widespread, disruptive cyber attack" against web pages and servers of Georgian governmental agencies, court and media organisations, which was carried out on October 28, 2019.
The US, UK and a number of other countries have also condemned the cyber attack. However, the Russian Foreign Ministry has denied widespread allegations.
High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice-President of European Commission Josep Borrell has condemned Russia’s widespread cyber attack against Georgia back in October 2019.
Foreign Secretary of the United Kingdom Dominic Raab has condemned Russia’s “unacceptable cyber-attacks against Georgia”. Calling the Russia’s military intelligence service - GRU's - "reckless and brazen campaign" of cyber attacks against Georgia "totally unacceptable", Secretary Raab said the UK will continue to counter its "menacing behaviour" together with allies.
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 Georgian Foreign Ministry has stated that on October 28, 2019, the Russian General Staff Main Intelligence Directorate (GRU) Main Center for Special Technologies carried out a ‘widespread, disruptive cyber attack’ against web pages and servers of Georgian governmental agencies, court and media organisations.“The attack caused serious damage to the web pages and servers. The cyberattack aimed to undermine Georgia’s national security, harming the Georgian population, disrupting the functioning of government agencies, as well as various organizations, and stirring commotion in public."
US online media outlet ZDNet has reported that voter information for more than 4.9 million Georgians, including deceased citizens, has been published on a hacking forum on Saturday.
Georgian Prime Minister Giorgi Gakharia joined a video conference summing up the achievements of the European Union’s six Eastern Partnership (EaP) countries earlier today. The leaders reviewed strengthening cooperation between the EU and the EaP, as well as measures aimed to counter the COVID-19 pandemic.
US Ambassador to Georgia Kelly Degnan says that she has no concrete proof, however taking Russia’s previous activities into account ‘it is quite likely’ the country will try to interfere in upcoming parliamentary elections in Georgia in the autumn.
The first Cyber Security Forum in Tbilisi has been held by the government of Georgia to identify problems in Georgian cybersecurity and find ways to settle them with the involvement of the diplomatic corps and international institutions.
Prime Minister of Georgia Giorgi Gakharia held a number of meetings at European Union headquarters in Brussels, Belgium today, with the upcoming parliamentary elections in Georgia, Georgia’s aspiration for EU membership and further relations with European Union were high on the agenda.
Georgia's role in the wider Black Sea region, the country's Euro-Atlantic aspirations, the occupation of its territories, security challenges in the region, and hybrid threats were the main topics of an address delivered by Georgian Prime Minister Giorgi Gakharia at the Royal United Services Institute for Defence and Security Studies (RUSI).
A cyberattack has been carried out on the servers of the Georgian Public Broadcaster today, due to which broadcasting was stopped, announces the Georgian Public Broadcaster.
Russian hacker Andrei Tyurin, who was extradited from Georgia to the United Stated in 2018, has been sentenced to 12 years in prison for involvement in mass network intrusions of US financial institutions, brokerage firms, news agencies and other American companies.