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AFP
Sochi
President Vladimir Putin on Thursday slammed as 'hysteria' claims that Russia has attempted to interfere in the upcoming US presidential elections by hacking American political institutions.
"The number of mythical, dreamt-up problems includes the hysteria - I can't think of another word - that has broken out in the US about the influence of Russia on the current elections for their president," Putin said at a meeting of political scientists in Sochi.
"Does anyone seriously think Russia can somehow influence the choice of the US people? Is the US some kind of banana republic? The United States is a great power. Please correct me if I'm wrong," Putin said to laughter in the audience.
Washington last week formally accused the Russian government of trying to 'interfere' in the 2016 White House race by hacking US political institutions, charges the Kremlin has repeatedly dismissed. Putin has vehemently rejected the accusations, saying they are meant to divert American voters from domestic problems. The Kremlin strongman however adopted a hard line against cyber attacks, saying these are 'unacceptable'.
Russian authorities have slammed Washington for 'unprecedented' threats after US Vice President Joe Biden told NBC this month that Putin would receive a 'message' in response to the alleged hacking.
NBC later reported that the CIA was preparing a retaliatory cyber attack 'designed to harass and embarrass the Kremlin leadership.'
