Security News > 2020 > October > EU sanctions Russian hackers over 2015 German parliament attack

Image: Tauno Tõhk. The Council of the European Union today announced sanctions imposed on Russian military intelligence officers part of the 85th Main Centre for Special Services for their involvement in a 2015 hack of the German Federal Parliament.

EU's sanctions include both travel bans and asset freezes and also block EU organizations and individuals from making fund transfers to sanctioned entities and individuals.

The Deutscher Bundestag attack affected the parliament's operation for multiple days during April and May 15, leading to the compromise of several parliament members' email accounts.

The legal framework that allowed these sanctions was established by the Council of the EU on May 17, 2019, and it was first used in July 2020 when the EU sanctions imposed on Unit 74455 of Russia's foreign military intelligence service, as well as on front companies for Chinese and North Korean hacking groups that orchestrated cyber-attacks targeting the EU and its member states.

The framework allows "The EU to impose targeted restrictive measures to deter and respond to cyber-attacks which constitute an external threat to the EU or its member states, including cyber-attacks against third States or international organisations where restricted measures are considered necessary to achieve the objectives of the Common Foreign and Security Policy."

News URL

https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/security/eu-sanctions-russian-hackers-over-2015-german-parliament-attack/