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Kremlin slams White House over Putin corruption claim

Vladimir Putin

Russian President Vladimir Putin meets with Chuvashia regional leader Mikhail Ignatyev in the Kremlin in Moscow, Russia, Friday, Jan. 29, 2016. Sputnik, Kremlin Pool Photo via AP

MOSCOW, Russia鈥擳he Kremlin on Friday lashed out at the White House after it backed up an allegation from the US Treasury that President Vladimir Putin is corrupt.

US Treasury acting under secretary for terrorism and financial intelligence Adam Szubin said in a BBC documentary aired Monday that Putin was a 鈥減icture of corruption.鈥

READ: Putin 鈥榩icture of corruption鈥欌擴S Treasury official

White House spokesman Josh Earnest on Thursday backed up that line, saying that the Treasury鈥檚 assessment 鈥渂est reflects the administration view.鈥

The Kremlin has already dismissed the US Treasury claim that it said amounted to an 鈥渙fficial accusation鈥, but ratcheted up the rhetoric after the White House got involved.

鈥淲e consider this statement outrageous and offensive,鈥 spokesman Dmitry Peskov told journalists.

鈥淲e really need further explanation because such a statement is absolutely unprecedented.鈥

Ties between Moscow and Washington have plunged to their lowest point since the Cold War over Russia鈥檚 meddling in Ukraine.

The two sides, however, are currently engaged in an international peace push on the conflict in Syria, although they support different sides in the civil war.

Peskov accused Washington of firing the starting gun on attempts to discredit Putin ahead of Russia鈥檚 next presidential elections in 2018, even though he insisted Putin has not yet decided to run.

In a sign that the allegations could further damage ties between the two countries, Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov raised the issue with his counterpart John Kerry in a phone call Friday.

鈥淟avrov expressed outrage at the contrived and unforgivable allegations against the Russian leadership,鈥 Russia鈥檚 foreign ministry said in a statement.

鈥淚t was emphasised that the blame for the deliberate whipping up of tension in bilateral affairs falls squarely on Washington,鈥 the statement said.

Russian authorities have repeatedly accused the West of plotting to overthrow Putin, but critics insist an elite around the strongman is whipping up public fears as they cement their grip over the country鈥檚 vast wealth.

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