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Russia Denies Responsibility for Cyber Attacks

By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent Worthy News

(Worthy News) – Russian President Vladimir Putin has denied Russia was the source of the hacking onslaught and claimed the United States was the biggest offender. “Russia is not even on the list,” he said, adding that offenders also included Canada and Britain.

He spoke after a summit with U.S. President Joe Biden in Geneva, Switzerland.

Biden, faced with a surge of cyberattacks that he said originated in Russia, had reportedly made clear that he intended to give Putin a choice: Cease the attacks and crackdown on the cybercriminals operating from Russian territory, or face reprisals.

The Russian leader said the nations had agreed that their ambassadors should return to their posts soon. He stressed they would also begin “consultations” on cyber-related issues. “We believe the sphere of cybersecurity is extremely important for the world in general — including for the United States and Russia to the same degree,” he explained.

Putin also defended a crackdown on opposition groups, saying he doesn’t want the same violence that the U.S. experiences in Russia. He mentioned reported riots in protests linked to the Black Lives Matter movement and the attack on the U.S. Capitol as examples.

However, not everyone agrees. Several posters dedicated to the imprisoned Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny appeared in Geneva on Wednesday, near the site where the two presidents met. Navalny, Putin’s most vocal critic, was arrested in January upon returning from Germany, where he spent five months recovering from a nerve agent poisoning that he blames on the Kremlin. Moscow denies the allegations.

Biden has condemned Navalny’s poisoning and subsequent arrest. The posters, written in both English and French, read: “Navalny poisoned with Novichok. And still no investigation? How come, President Putin?”

Putin declined to mention Navalny’s name but said the person mentioned bu reporters had been convicted twice for wrongdoing. Despite different views on these and otter issues, Putin said he and Biden “ demonstrated the desire to understand each other and look for ways to get closer.” He added: “The conversation was rather constructive.”