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Lavrov in talks with Kerry expressed indignation over US corruption accusations

On January 28 US White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest said that US Treasury Adam Szubin’s statements on Putin’s alleged involvement in corruption reflect the view of the US Administration
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov Valeriy Sharifulin/TASS
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov
© Valeriy Sharifulin/TASS

MOSCOW, January 29. /TASS/. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov expressed indignation during his telephone conversation with US State Secretary John Kerry over "trumped-up and brazen accusations" against Russian leadership by high-ranking officials of the Obama Administration, the Russian Foreign Ministry said on Friday.

"It was stressed that the blame for delicately fanning tensions in bilateral relations lies fully on Washington," the foreign ministry said.

The telephone conversation was held on the initiative of the US side, and the sides also discussed the situation in Syria.

BBC published an investigation last week accusing Russian President Vladimir Putin of corruption. Journalists based their claims on statements of US Under Secretary for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence Adam Szubin. The Kremlin said the statements represent "pure fiction and slander."

US White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest said on Thursday that Szubin’s statements on Putin’s alleged involvement in corruption reflect the view of the US Administration. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said earlier today that accusations against Putin are unacceptable, outrageous and insulting. He added that such groundless statements aim to play the card of Vladimir Putin in upcoming US presidential election. The spokesman noted that Moscow is waiting for an explanation from US officials.