MOSCOW. Sept 12 (Interfax) - Moscow does not link the case of alleged spy Oleg Smolenkov to the election campaign in the United States, according to Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov.
"Absolutely not," Ryabkov said in response to Interfax's question.
"It is funny that this episode, which actually does not deserve so much attention, is associated with any schedules or calendars," he said.
"There have been speculations on its possible relation to the so-called 'Russian interference in U.S. electoral processes'. These speculations are baseless; it's another attempt to use 'Russian material' and the subject of Russia to seed mistrust about us in the United States," Ryabkov said.