Thread by @annaholligan

Poised for MoD/Dutch ministry of defence presser in The Hague. Will try to live tweet. #Russia #GRU

Ambassador @PeterWilson speaking on behalf of @AlanDuncanMP whose flight was cancelled due to bad weather

Expecting details of joint intelligence operation relating to #Russia #GRU

In April 2018, Dutch disrupted cyber operation by #GRU operatives targeting @OPCW (global chemical weapons watchdog) #Russia

Four #GRU operatives were escorted out of the country on the same day #Russia

NL has continued investigation. One of the operatives laptops had been active in Brazil, Malaysia and Switzerland. Some efforts to target #MH17 investigation #Russia

Dutch public prosecutors office named four men & could describe operation in great detail. US department of justice will reveal further details of disruption this afternoon #GRU

Russian military service “must put a stop to cyber operations...” that’s why we’re taking unusual step of revealing #GRU operatives identities #Russia

Special moment to disclose info about counter-intelligence ops. Sometimes necessary to step out of shadows... #GRU operation tried to hack @OPCW WiFi network #Russia

Counter-intelligence. Travelled on diplomatic passports Moscow - NL. Escorted from Schiphol by member of Russian embassy in The Hague

Arrived in NL 10 April 2018. Identified as #GRU intelligence officers #Russia

Reconnaissance conducted 11/12 April 2018

Cyber hacking kit set up in boot of car #GRU #Russia

How can we know they were not just in NL on holiday? Question raises a chuckle in the room. Tried to destroy phones & removed litter from hotel. Carrying large amount of cash (more than you’d normally take on hols) #Russia #GRU

One of the phones was activated in Moscow. Closest cell tower - #GRU barracks #Russia

Dutch intelligence recovered taxi receipts showing journey from #GRU barracks to Moscow airport #Russia

Login details. Surprised #GRU operatives use WiFi hotspots #Russia

Google map printouts, train tickets and web searches all form part of evidence trail #GRU #Russia

“Incredibly proud of people who made this counter-intelligence operation successful...” #Russia #GRU

Dutch security services working in cooperation with UK colleagues. At time @OPCW was working to identify substance used to poison #Skripal - @PeterWilson speaking now #GRU

#Russian #GRU unit identified as 26165. One operative targeted Malaysian police & attorney general #MH17

Compelling technical evidence. #GRU almost certainly responsible. Officers disrupted in The Hague members of Unit 26165 #Russia

#GRU tried to compromise UK @FCOtravel department, @OPCW & #OPCW employees directly. Efforts to infiltrate conducted by teams based in #Russia

#GRU aggressive, well-funded body of #Russian state acting with apparent impunity. Not just operating from barracks in Moscow anymore... quiet British city, The Hague, Malaysia. We have disrupted & exposed them @PeterWilson

“We will expose their methods & share this with our allies... to update sanctions, combat hostile actions in cyberspace. #GRU can only operate in shadows, we much expose it to the light together.” - @PeterWilson #Russia

Great concern @OPCW a target. As host country (NL) we have duty to allow international orgs to work safely... in disclosing this, Russia really needs to stop. Russian Ambo has been summoned to have message conveyed #GRU #Russia

“Beginners mistakes” & “Why not arrest them rather than expell them?” - common responses to presser. Imagine diplomatic immunity applies? #GRU #Russia

Exact spot #GRU set up for hacking mission? #Russia #OPCW

#GRU operatives never dropped iPhone in water? Far more effective method of destruction #Russia

Thanks for all the voice-recovering advice

US Justice Dept announces indictments against SEVEN #Russian nationals (some of same named in NL) - live now justice.gov/live #GRU

Conspiracy includes attempt to access nuclear facility in US. As well as anti-doping & @OPCW #GRU #Russia

“(Hacking) allegations show defendants thought anonymity would allow them to act with impunity. They were wrong.” @TheJusticeDept

Hundreds of victims targeted. 250 athletes from 30 countries. Including anti-doping orgs & @FIFAcom & US nuclear facility supplying power to #Ukraine - Scott Brady #Russia #GRU

FIVE charged with aggravated identity theft... all charged with money laundering, using crypto-currencies. Transactions occurred in part in US - @TheJusticeDept #GRU #Russia

Started with #Russia getting caught cheating. They retaliated with criminal activity. This wasn’t spy vs spy, it was a criminal conspiracy that caused real harm to real victims - @TheJusticeDept #GRU

“We want them to face trial and be put in jail.” Ambitious @TheJusticeDept. Seven suspects all #GRU operatives #Russia

Suspects traveling on State issued passports. #Russia #GRU

@TheJusticeDept believes suspects are in #Russia

Surprised to hear @OPCW were only notified today #Russia #GRU

Coming up live for @BBCOS in exact spot #GRU operatives set up hacking mission #Russia

Why were #GRU suspects expelled rather than detained on suspicion of hacking in the Netherlands? Diplomatic passports meant diplomatic immunity from prosecution...? Still seeking definitive answer. government.nl/latest/news/20…