putin dismisses allegations about russia<u+2019>s interference in u.s. election october 27, 2016 tass vladimir putin , u.s.-russia relations , valdai , sochi , elections in usa russian president vladimir putin at a meeting of the valdai international discussion club on oct. 27. source: kremlin.ru 




russian president vladimir putin has dismissed as hysteria speculations russia is meddling in the election campaign in the united states. 




"on the list of phantom problems, far-fetched problems there is the ongoing hysteria - i just cannot think of another word - over russia<u+2019>s alleged influence on the course of the current presidential election," putin said at a meeting of the valdai international discussion club on oct. 27. 




he pointed out that the united states was faced with many problems - from the mammoth federal debt to police brutality. 




"but apparently the elite has nothing to say to calm public anxiety," said putin. "it is far better to distract people<u+2019>s attention with rumored russian hackers, spies, agents of influence and so on and so forth. 




<u+201c>is there anyone who thinks in full seriousness that russia is capable of influencing the choice of the american people somehow? america is not a banana republic, is it? america is a great power."
putin dismisses allegations about russia<u+2019>s interference in u.s. election
tass