Press release

Joint statement from Prime Minister May and Prime Minister Rutte

Prime Minister May and Prime Minister Rutte make a joint statement: 4 October 2018.

• From: Prime Minister's Office, 10 Downing Street and The Rt Hon Theresa May
• Published: 4 October 2018
• Last updated: 4 October 2018 — See all updates

This was published under the 2016 to 2019 May Conservative government

We have, with the operations exposed today, further shone a light on the unacceptable cyber activities of the Russian military intelligence service, the GRU. It has targeted institutions across the world, including the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) in The Hague.

This attempt, to access the secure systems of an international organisation working to rid the world of chemical weapons, demonstrates the GRU’s disregard for the global values and rules that keep us all safe.

The GRU’s reckless operations stretch from destructive cyber activity to the use of illegal nerve agents, as we saw in Salisbury. That attack left four people fighting for their lives and one woman dead.

Our action today reinforces the clear message from the international community: We will uphold the rules-based international system, and defend international institutions from those that seek to do them harm.

Published 4 October 2018
Last updated 4 October 2018 + show all updates

1. 4 October 2018

   Turkish translation added

2. 4 October 2018

   First published.