Dutch government won't comment on secret services infiltrating Russian hackers

The two Dutch Ministers in charge of intelligence services AIVD and MIVD refused to respond to reports that the two services passed crucial information about Russian hackers influencing the United States presidential elections to the FBI. Other than saying that the government is proud of the Dutch security services, NOS reports.

"I leave the news coverage for what it is", Minster Kasja Ollongren of Home Affairs and Kingdom Relations, in charge of general intelligence and security service AIVD, said to the broadcaster. She worries that anything she says about the matter could have a negative effect on the intelligence services' work. Ollongren pointed out that the AIVD has been warning for years against "this kind of digital espionage by state actors", and that it is good that the services are involved "in the interest of security in the Netherlands".

Minister Ank Bijleveld of Defense, responsible for military intelligence and security service MIVD, also refused to comment to NOS. "We never make announcements about MIVD operations", was all she'd say.

On Thursday night the Volkskrant and Nieuwsuur revealed that the two intelligence services succeeded in infiltrating a Russian hacker group. The Dutch services found out important information about cyber attacks on the United States. The group, named Cozy Bear, seemed to be headed by a Russian secret service and was determined to influence the presidential election late in 2016.