Germany summons Russian ambassador over Parliament hacking row

The German government today summoned the Russian envoy over the Parliament hacking incident after Russian authorities said that its military intelligence wasn't responsible for the hacking attack.

“This hackneyed story is trying to put blame on Russia for cyber warfare, attempts at intimidation, destabilization and disinformation towards the EU,” the Russian embassy said in a statement.

According to a German magazine, Der Spiegel Russia's GRU military intelligence had hacked into German Parliament's records in 2015.

"The Russian ambassador was informed that on the basis of an arrest warrant issued by the (German) federal prosecutor's office on May 5 against Russian national Dmitry Badin, that the German government will seek in Brussels to use the EU cyber sanctions regime against those responsible for the attack on the German Bundestag, including Mr Badin," the ministry said.

German Chancellor Merkel while making a statement in Parliament earlier had said earlier that her efforts to improve ties with Russia weren't made any easier due to Russian hacking.    

"I can honestly say that it pains me. Every day I try to build a better relationship with Russia and on the other hand, there is such hard evidence that Russian forces are doing this," Merkel told the German Parliament.

"Unfortunately the conclusion I have reached is that this is not new," Merkel asserted while saying that "cyber-disorientation, the distortion of facts were all part of Russia's strategy".

"Obviously this doesn't make it easier to foster a better relationship with Moscow," Merkel told lawmakers.