Via Terry
Moments ago, Russian president started speaking at the final session
of the Valdai International Discussion Club’s 13th annual meeting in
Sochi. More than 130 experts and political analysts from Russia and
other countries are taking part in this year’s three-day meeting, titled
‘The Future in Progress: Shaping the World of Tomorrow’.
While Putin's speech can be seen below, he has already had a handful
of soundbites, most notably the following he just said in response to
accusations that Russia could influence the US election:
"Hysteria has been whipped up in the United States about the
influence of Russia over the U.S. presidential election," said Putin,
calling it a ruse to cover up for the fact that the U.S. political elite
had nothing to say about serious issues such as the country's national
debt or gun control.
"It's much simpler to distract people with so-called Russian hackers,
spies, and agents of influence.
Does anyone really think that Russia
could influence the American people's choice in any way? The number of
mythical, dreamt-up problems include the hysteria - I can't think of
another word - that has broken out in the United States about the
influence of Russia on the current elections for the US president.
"
He ended that phrase as follows:
"What, is America a banana republic?!"
