What is the Russia Report and what does it say on Brexit?
PARLIAMENT'S Intelligence and Security Committee released the long-awaited Russia Report on July 21.
But what is it and what does it say on Brexit? Here is everything we know...
What is the Russia Report?
The Russia Report is a confirming a series of attempts by the Kremlin to interfere in British democracy.
The report analysed Russian meddling in UK elections and referendums across donations, cyber-attacks and even assassinations.
The shocking document says: “It is clear that Russia currently poses a significant threat to the UK on a number of fronts – from espionage to interference in democratic processes, and to serious crime.
"The UK is one of Russia’s top Western intelligence targets: particularly given the UK’s firm stance against recent Russian aggression and the UK-led international response to the 2018 Salisbury attack.
"Russia’s intelligence services are disproportionately large and powerful and, given the lack of rule of law, are able to act without constraint."
What does it say on Brexit?
The report found no evidence of interference in the Brexit vote.
It warned it was “impossible to assess” any level of involvement from Russia and instead demanded a further probe.
Committee member Stewart Hosie MP said: "The report reveals that no one in government knew if Russia interfered in or sought to influence the [Brexit] referendum because they did not want to know.
"The UK Government have actively avoided looking for evidence that Russia interfered, we were told they hadn't seen any evidence but that is meaningless if they didn't even look for it."
Kevan Jones MP added: "We wanted to see the post-referendum assessments but there isn't one there has been no assessment of Russian interference in the EU referendum and that goes back to no one wanting to touch this issue with a 10ft pole".
Responding to the report, the Government insisted a "retrospective assessment" of the EU referendum was not necessary.
What else does the report include?
Scotland
It suggested interference did take place in the Scottish Independence referendum, labelling the claims Russia was involved as "credible".
It pointed to the use of "bots" and "trolls" as evidence Moscow tried to interfere.
Mr Jones said there was "clear evidence" of Russian interference not just from the Scottish referendum but also the hacking of the Democrats in the US.
Spies
The report also demanded new legislation to crack down on foreign spies and accused the Government of being slow to act.
It said: “It has been clear for some time that Russia under Putin has moved from potential partner to established threat, fundamentally unwilling to adhere to international law – the murder of Alexander Litvinenko in 2006 and the annexation of Crimea in 2014 were stark indicators of this.
"We, therefore, question whether the Government took its eye off the ball because of its focus on counter-terrorism: it was the opinion of the Committee that until recently the Government had badly underestimated the response required to the Russian threat –and is still playing catch up."
The committee also raised concerns about which Government organisation is actually responsible for protecting the UK against foreign interference.
It said: "The defence of those democratic processes has appeared something of a 'hot potato', with no one organisation considering itself to be in the lead, or apparently willing to conduct an assessment of such interference."
Oligarchs
It blasted “successive governments” for having welcomed Russian oligarchs and their money “'with open arms”.
The report warned this gave them power and access to influential figures.
It said: "Successive Governments have welcomed the oligarchs and their money with open arms, providing them with a means of recycling illicit finance through the London "laundromat", and connections at the highest levels with access to UK companies and political figures.
"This has led to a growth industry of "enablers" including lawyers, accountants, and estate agents who are – wittingly or unwittingly – de facto agents of the Russian state."
The report admitted that is now too late to "shut the stable door" but that the UK can still introduce "greater powers and transparency".
more on russia
Fake News
The report also pointed to a series of false stories pumped out by Russian state broadcasters, as well as through bots online.
It has now called for a social media crackdown on fake news.
It said: “The Government must now seek to establish a protocol with the social media companies to ensure that they take covert hostile state use of their platforms seriously, and have clear timescales within which they commit to removing such material."
READ MORE SUN STORIES
On July 21 a Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson dismissed the report.
Mariya Zakharova said: “There was no sensation. It’s Russophobia set in a fake shape”.