In the final part of US filmmaker Oliver Stone’s documentary series, Putin
Interviews, which was aired on Showtime on Thursday night, the Russian leader
told the Oscar-winning director about how Washington has attempted to interfere
in the Russian electoral process through US diplomatic staff and by pouring
money into NGOs.
"[They did it] in 2000, and in 2012, this always happened. But especially
aggressively in 2012. I will not go into details,” Putin said, adding that all
of the other post-Soviet republics have also been subject to US meddling.
As one of the most glaring examples, Putin pointed out that US diplomatic
workers had actually campaigned for the Russian opposition.
"They gathered opposition forces and financed them, went to opposition rallies,”
the Russia leader noted, adding that he had broached this issue with members of
the past administration, including former US President Barack Obama and former
Secretary of State John Kerry.
Engaging in the power struggle within Russia runs contrary to the role of
diplomats, which is to "establish interstate relations,” Putin argued. Another
tool the US uses to project influence is NGOs, which "are frequently financed
through a number of layers and structures either from the State Department or
some other quasi-governmental sources,” he said, adding that Washington employs
the same interference strategy all over the world.
Dismissing the allegations that Russia meddled in the November presidential
elections as a "lie,” Putin said that US-Russia relations are being held hostage
to US domestic squabbles and used as "a tool in the intra-political fight in the
United States.”
Putin said he had read the US intelligence report alleging Russia’s involvement
in the US elections and found it superficial, as it lacks concrete details and
is based on speculation rather than hard facts.
Putin stressed that Russia has not carried out cyberattacks targeting the
infrastructure of other countries.
"We have not engaged in any cyberattacks. It is hard to imagine that any
country, including a country like Russia, could seriously influence the
electoral campaign and its results,” he said.
When asked whether a "secret war” was underway between Russia and the US in the
cybersphere, the Russian president simply said that for every action, there is
always an equal and opposite reaction.
Source: RT