Moscow says ‘zero’ proof Russian hackers involved in Qatar crisis
Moscow/Washington — Moscow on Wednesday dismissed allegations that Russian hackers helped spark the diplomatic crisis around Qatar, after CNN reported that US officials believed they planted a false news story. "We’re getting tired of reacting to unsubstantiated banalities," Andrei Krutskikh, a Kremlin adviser on cybersecurity, told the Interfax news agency. "Whatever happens it is hackers. It’s a stale claim and as ever there is zero evidence, and conclusions are drawn before the incident is even investigated," he said. FBI experts visited Qatar in late in May to analyse an alleged cyber breach that saw the hackers place the fake story with Qatar’s state news agency, the US broadcaster said. Saudi Arabia then cited the false item as part of its reason for instituting a diplomatic and economic blockade against Qatar, CNN reported. Qatar’s government said the May 23 news report attributed false remarks to the emirate’s ruler that appeared friendly to Iran and Israel, and questioned w...
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