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Washington (AP) - In the US election in November, according to the American secret services, Russia stood up for the then President Donald Trump and tried to harm his challenger Joe Biden and sow strife in the country.
President Vladimir Putin and his government “approved and carried out” the attempted influence, according to a report published on Tuesday from the office of intelligence coordinator Avril Haines.
Russia relied on its secret service, state media, internet trolls and allies in Ukraine in its campaign, it said.
One of Moscow's most important strategies was to accuse Biden and his family of corruption in connection with Ukraine.
Russia's agents had also targeted Americans who had ties to Trump's government to demand the initiation of investigations against Biden.
There have also been attempts to manipulate Trump administration officials and media into this, it said.
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Russia focused on disinformation in 2020 but, unlike in the 2016 election, did not seek to directly undermine the US electoral infrastructure, it said.
Moscow wanted to "influence the public perception of the candidates in the US" and pursue the long-term goal of "undermining trust in the US electoral system and increasing the social division of the people in America," it said.
Russia viewed Biden's election victory as “detrimental to Russian interests”.
China, on the other hand, did not try to influence the election.
According to the report, Iran is also said to have tried to influence the election campaign.
Tehran was about reducing the chances of Trump's re-election and increasing the division in American society, it said.
Iran also did not directly attack the electoral infrastructure.
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© dpa-infocom, dpa: 210316-99-851204 / 2
Secret services report, English
Department of Homeland Security Report, English