RUSSIA UNDER ACCUSATION FOR ENCOURAGING HACKERS WITH YAHOO BREACH

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The members of the FSB, the Russian intelligence agency, have conspired with criminal hackers, as stated by the Department of Justice officials announcing the charges.

Previously, Yahoo stated that the "state-sponsored" hackers were behind the 2014 breach affecting 500 million accounts. The suspects have also been accused to have targeted Google accounts. Hacking was directed at Russian and US government officials, that includes security, diplomatic and military personnel, according to the DOJ. This statement also alleged that 30 million Yahoo accounts were compromised without authorisation in a spam campaign.

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"We will not allow individuals, groups, nation states, or a combination of them to compromise the privacy of our citizens, the economic interests of our companies, or the security of our country," stated acting attorney general Mary McCord, confirming the charges.

One of the alleged hackers has been on the FBI's most wanted cyber criminals for more than three years, stated by acting Att Gen McCord. The suspect in question, Alexsey Belan, was aided by the FSB who - according to the DOJ - informed him with "sensitive FSB law enforcement and intelligence information that would have helped him avoid detection by US and other law enforcement agencies outside Russia".

"We would hope Russia would respect our criminal justice system and respect these charges," said acting Att Gen McCord, who acknowledged the fact that the US does not have an banishment treaty with Russia.

"The United Kingdom's MI5 made extensive assistance to the advancement of this investigation," added FBI executive assistant director Paul Abbate.

"We are deeply grateful to the FBI for investigating these crimes and the DOJ for bringing charges against those responsible."

The DOJ said that the charges have no connection to the hack on the Democratic National Convention last year.