US ELECTION HACK: RUSSIA REACTS TO SANCTIONS

President of Russia, Vladimir Putin and President of US, Barack Obama

Following a grave allegation by the government of the United States of America that its election database was hacked by Russia, consequent upon which 35 Russian diplomats were ordered to leave, and have indeed left the US; the Russian government has long retaliated.

The President of the United States of America, Barack Obama, whose tenure as president is fast coming to an end, had imposed a good number of sanctions on Russians as well as Russian entities in the US after describing Russia’s alleged hacking of the US election as "Significant Malicious Cyber-Enabled Activities."

Thus, 35 Russian diplomats were ordered to vacate the US within 72 hours. The GRU and the FSB, which are two Russian intelligence services, were sanctioned. Three companies that provided material support to the GRU's operations were closed down. Two Russian compounds were also closed down.

Read also_ Russia Hacked Our Election Database: Obama Orders 35 Russian Diplomats to Vacate the Country.

Contrary to what was thought by many that Russia will reply in kind, the Russian government led by President Vladimir Putin has declined to impose reciprocal sanctions on Americans or American entities in Russia.

Although Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman, Maria Zakharova had said that similar steps would be taken in response to the expulsions; Dimitri Peskov, a spokesman for Russian President Vladimir Putin, had told reporters that there is “no alternative to reciprocal measure,” adding that Putin is “in no rush to make a decision.”

Ignoring a recommendation by the Russian Foreign Minister that 35 American diplomats be expelled from Russia as well as other similar recommendations, the Russian President, Vladimir Putin, has decided not to reciprocate similar sanctions in Russia for now.

Putin’s decision is premised on the fact that President Barack Obama’s tenure as president of the US will terminate in about three weeks’ time. Putin then is determined to wait till Friday January 20, 2017, when President elect Donald Trump will be sworn into office as President of the US.

It is obvious that Putin is anticipating establishing harmonic ties with Donald Trump. Perhaps, the Russian president is rather optimistically hoping that he and Donald Trump would be able to find a middle ground and maybe, just maybe Donald Trump will lift the sanctions imposed by President Obama.

What are your thoughts about Putin’s decision? Do you think he reacted intelligently?

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