Summary
President Vladimir Putin on Thursday slammed as "hysteria" claims that Russia has attempted to interfere in the upcoming US presidential elections by hacking American political institutions.
Putin has vehemently rejected the accusations, saying they are meant to divert American voters from domestic problems.
Russian authorities have slammed Washington for "unprecedented" threats after US Vice President Joe Biden told NBC this month that Putin would receive a "message" in response to the alleged hacking.
Russia has been accused of favoring Republican candidate Donald Trump -- who has praised Putin and called for better relations with Moscow -- over the more hawkish Clinton.
Putin has offered what appears to be veiled support for Trump, but he said Thursday that claims the Kremlin would like to see the Republican candidate win were "absolute nonsense".
Putin nonetheless praised Trump for appealing to disenchanted American electors.
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