Putin: Russian hacking allegations ‘reminds me of anti-Semitism’

Vladimir Putin compared allegations that Russia hacked the Democratic National Committee to anti-Semitism at a Friday panel at the St. Petersburg Economic Forum.

The consensus opinion of the United States intelligence agencies and global cybersecurity community is “disinformation,” said Putin, which “reminds me of anti-Semitism and blaming the Jews.”

The panel also featured Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Moldovan President Igor Dodon and Austrian Chancellor Christian Kern. It was moderated by NBC’s Megyn Kelly.

{mosads}Putin took the opportunity to again deny any Russian involvement in election-related hacking and to question the need for NATO, calling it a relic of the Cold War against a Soviet Union that no longer exists. He singled out President Trump’s calls for increased military spending on the part of NATO allies as particularly troubling to him. 

“If you’re not intending to attack anybody, why increase your military spending?” asked Putin.