Russian sanctions include closure of compound on LI

President Barack Obama ordered the closure of a Russian compound on the North Shore as part of the sanctions on Russia for its alleged hacking interference with the U.S. elections. U.S. special agents

News 12 Staff

Dec 31, 2016, 4:01 AM

Updated 2,913 days ago

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President Barack Obama ordered the closure of a Russian compound on the North Shore as part of the sanctions on Russia for its alleged hacking interference with the U.S. elections.
U.S. special agents descended on the Upper Brookville property this morning. Records show the mansion on Mill River Road is listed as a Russian Federation Mission. A State Department official says all occupants were forced out by noon.
Rep. Peter King says he supports the president's decision to shut it down.
"The president has good reasons to do it," says King. "Officially, it's Russian diplomats. But we always assume when there's Russian diplomats, there are Russian spies. And our people basically know who they are, and that could be part of the reason they're shutting it down."
State Department cars and police remained on the scene into Friday evening. Access to the property will only be granted by the U.S. State Department.
The 14-acre site was purchased by the Soviet government in 1954. Upper Brookville's mayor says they've never had any problems with the occupants of the house.
The Russian government also owns a second property in Glen Cove. The Glen Cove mayor says they've been in touch with the federal government, but at this point it is not being closed.