United Kingdom: a report on possible Russian interference unveiled on Tuesday

The United Kingdom is due to publish a long-awaited report on Tuesday, July 21, on possible Russian interference, in particular in the campaign for the 2016 referendum that led to Brexit, in a context of icy relations between London and Moscow.

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Written by the Parliamentary Intelligence and Security Committee (ISC), this 50-page report addresses the suspicions of interference in the campaign for the referendum on the exit from the European Union in 2016, which was won by 52% by the camp of " Leave ". Its publication comes in a stormy climate between London and Moscow and during a visit to the British capital by US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo.

Last Thursday, the United Kingdom thus implicated " Russian actors " in interference during the campaign for the legislative elections last December. In question, the dissemination on the internet of documents relating to the negotiations between London and Washington on a future post-Brexit trade agreement.

Hackers and vaccines

London has also accused the Russian intelligence services of being behind computer attacks intended to seize the fruits of research on a vaccine against the coronavirus. According to the British government agency responsible for cybersecurity, a group of Russian hackers have lashed out at organizations in the UK, Canada and the United States for stealing their research into developing a vaccine against SARS-CoV2. The Kremlin has strongly denied " baseless allegations ".

Read also: Coronavirus: London accuses Russia of trying to steal data on a vaccine

The Intelligence and Security Committee launched its investigation in November 2017 and submitted its report to the Prime Minister last October. In early November, the government was criticized for not wanting to publish it before the December 12 election, largely won by the Conservatives of Prime Minister Boris Johnson. He then invoked questions of national security.

The ISC's investigation aimed to address concerns about interference in the 2016 US election and the impact of disinformation campaigns originating from Russia. The prime minister at the time, Theresa May, accused Russia of spreading " false stories " to " sow discord in the West and undermine our institutions ".

Relations between London and Moscow are at their lowest since poisoning with a neurotoxic agent of ex-Russian spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia, who had survived, in Salisbury (southwest) in March 2018. The Russia had denied any involvement, but the affair had resulted in a wave of cross-expulsions of diplomats between London and its allies and Moscow.