WASHINGTON – The Biden government will take a series of retaliatory measures against Russia on Thursday in response to alleged Moscow interference in the elections, a widespread hacking campaign and other malicious activities, according to people familiar with the case.
With the help of a new executive order, the measure will expand the existing ban on US banks dealing in Russian sovereign debt, two of the people said. Previous bans targeting parts of Russia’s public debt shocked Russian markets and added to the economic woes.
That order prohibits U.S. financial institutions from buying new bonds directly from Russia’s central bank, the Treasury Department and the country’s massive treasury fund after June 14.
Among other measures, 10 Russian diplomats will be expelled, including some on allegations that Russia has offered to pay bounties to militants in Afghanistan to kill US military personnel, the people said. Sanctions will be imposed for Russia’s cyber-burglaries, electoral interference and occupation of Crimea.
Russia’s foreign affairs intelligence agency, the SVR, will be formally charged with carrying out the so-called SolarWinds hack of US government and corporate computer systems. Collectively, the actions are intended to punish Moscow while deterring the Kremlin from further provocations.