On Tuesday, Russian President Vladimir Putin called the legal proceedings against former US President Donald Trump “politically motivated persecution.”
The Kremlin has constantly defended the former president, who is facing a slew of allegations related to election meddling.
“As for the persecution of Trump, for us, in the current environment, it’s good because it shows the rottenness of the American system,” Putin said at an economic forum in the far eastern city of Vladivostok.
“It is a politically motivated persecution of one’s competitor.”
Putin, who served in the Soviet security services, added: “And this shows who we are fighting … As they said in Soviet times: ‘the bestial face of American imperialism.’”
Relations between Washington and Moscow have reached new lows since the Kremlin initiated large-scale conflicts in Ukraine last year, despite a litany of concerns under Putin.
Putin stated that he does not anticipate the US foreign policy against Russia to change regardless of “whoever is elected president” next year.
He charged Washington with instilling anti-Russian sentiment among regular Americans.
“Current authorities have directed American society in an anti-Russian spirit,” the Kremlin chief said.
“They’ve done it and now somehow turning this ship in the other direction will be very difficult.”
