120
David Kirkpatrick, British Cybersecurity Chief Warns of Russian Hacking
The New York Times, Nov. 14, 2017. Robert Booth & Alex Hern, Intelligence Watchdog Urged to Look at Russian Influence on
Brexit Vote
The Guardian, Nov. 15, 2017; United Kingdom House of Commons Select Committee Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Committee, Fake News Inquiry Launched Jan. 30,
2017. Transparency International, 3 Things We’ve Learned Since the Anti-Corrutpion Summit in London 2016, Sept. 19, 2017.
679
Anti-Corruption Summit London 2016, United Kingdom Country Statement, at 1, May 12,
2016.
UK Parliament, Summary of the Criminal Finances Act of 2017, https://serv- ices.parliament.uk/bills/2016-17/criminalfinances.html (visited Dec. 30, 2017); ‘‘Magnitsky Bill Turns UK into Hostile Environment for Kleptocrats,’’
BBC, Feb. 21, 2017. tions of possible Russian government interference into the
Brexit referendum and UK democracy were met with a sharp warning from Prime Minister May in an address in November
2017 in which she told the Kremlin, We know what you are doing . . . and you will not succeed and described Russian state actions as threatening the international order.’’
676
In mid-November 2017, Prime Minister May suggested that a prominent intelligence and security parliamentary committee would be reformed soon to investigate Russian meddling in the British election, a development called for by senior parliamentarians from both the Labour and Conservative parties. Meanwhile, the Commons Digital, Culture, Media, and Sport Select Committee opened an inquiry in January 2017 to investigate the scope and role of disinformation and propaganda in
Britain.
677
As mentioned earlier, the Electoral Commission opened investigations into possible campaign finance violations and the source of funding for the Brexit Leave campaign.
On the corruption front, in May 2016 the United Kingdom hosted an anti-corruption summit in which 43 governments and six international organizations participated, resulting in a Global Declaration Against Corruption and 648 commitments by participating states and entities to strengthen various aspects of transparency and accountability for corruption.
678
The government of Former Prime Minister David Cameron announced at the summit, among other steps, the launch of the UK’s public central register of company beneficial ownership information for all companies incorporated in the UK as well as for foreign companies who already own or buy property in the UK, or who bid on UK central government contracts.’’
679
The United Kingdom in April 2017 also passed into law the Criminal Finances Act, which strengthens provisions against tax evasion and includes a section modeled after the US. Global
Magnitsky Rule of Law and Accountability Act enabling the freezing of assets of foreign officials who have committed gross human rights violations.
680
VerDate Mar 15 2010 04:06 Jan 09, 2018
Jkt PO 00000
Frm 00126
Fmt 6601
Sfmt 6601
S:\FULL COMMITTEE\HEARING FILES\COMMITTEE PRINT 2018\HENRY\JAN. 9 REPORT
FOREI-42327 with DISTILLER
121 681
Gregor Aisch, et al., How France Voted
The New York Times, May 7, 2017; Nicholas
Vinocur, Macron,
Standing by Putin, Calls RT and Sputnik Agents of Influence
Politico, May
29, 2017. Nicholas Vinocur, Macron and the Czar at Versailles
Politico, May 29, 2017. James McAuley, French President Macron Blasts Russian State-Owned Media as Propaganda
The Washington Post, May 29, 2017. Andrew Osborn & Richard Balmforth, Macron Camp Bars Russian News Outlets, Angers Moscow
Reuters, Apr. 27, 2017;
Charles Bremmer, Websites Pump Out Fake News Minutes After Offshore Claims
The Times, May 5, 2017. James McAuley, French President Macron Blasts Russian State-Owned Media as Propaganda
The Washington Post, May 29, 2017. James McAuley, French President Macron Blasts Russian State-Owned Media as Propaganda
The Washington Post, May 29, 2017; Committee Staff Discussion with French Foreign Ministry Officials, Nov. 2017.
FRANCE
The Russian government has sought to influence democracy in France through the use of cyberattacks, disinformation, and cultural and political influence. Despite
relatively strong historical, political, and cultural ties to Russia compared to other European powers, France and its new president Emmanuel Macron—himself a target of cyber hacking and disinformation—are emerging as strong voices against Russian government interference and have played a leading role in Europe to resist Kremlin meddling. Barely three weeks after he was elected with nearly twice the votes of his far-right, pro-Kremlin challenger Marine Le Pen, French President Emmanuel Macron stood next to Russian President Vladimir Putin fora press conference at Versailles.
681
An exhibition inside the Palace was celebrating the 1717 visit to Paris of Russian tsar Peter the Great, a figure to whom Russia’s modern- day strongman is often compared.
682
But that day it was Macron, after being asked why certain Russian media outlets were not given access to his campaign, who projected a forceful stance. I will yield nothing on this. Nothing, madam. So let’s set things straight . . . Russia Today and Sputnik did not act as news outlets and journalists, but they acted as organs of influence,
of propaganda, and of deceptive propaganda. It’s that simple.’’
683
Reports disseminated by these outlets and on pro-Kremlin social media had variously decried Macron as a puppet of US. political and business leaders, alleged he held an offshore account in the Bahamas to evade taxes, and fueled rumors of an extramarital gay relationship, which Macron publicly denied.
684
For his part, Putin used the press conference to dismiss the notion of Russian government meddling in the French election, claiming Macron did not show any interest in discussing it and I even less.’’
685
But investigations by government and non-government researchers have pointed to a myriad of Russian malign influence tools that were deployed in France prior to its 2017 election. The French response was multifaceted and quick, animated by a desire to avoid falling victim to meddling similar to what was seen in the
Brexit referendum and US. presidential election in And if, as it appeared, the Kremlin’s goal was to undermine Macron’s
candidacy, then the French response successfully stymied that goal. In recent years, the French government’s posture has become increasingly critical toward Russian aggression in Ukraine and Syria. Macrons predecessor Francois Hollande in 2014 stopped delivery of two French warships ordered by the Kremlin and, in 2016, suggested Russian complicity in war crimes in Aleppo—an allegation
VerDate Mar 15 2010 04:06 Jan 09, 2018
Jkt PO 00000
Frm 00127
Fmt 6601
Sfmt 6601
S:\FULL COMMITTEE\HEARING FILES\COMMITTEE PRINT 2018\HENRY\JAN. 9 REPORT
FOREI-42327 with DISTILLER
122 Michael Stothard, et al., France Suspends Delivery Of Mistral Warship to Russia
Finan-Share with your friends: