Displaying his trademark rollicking sense of humor, Russian President Vladimir Putin offered former FBI Director James Comey asylum in Russia on Wednesday, in case he is prosecuted for helping release contents of his memo to the media. He said, "It sounds and looks very weird when the chief of a security agency records his conversation with the commander in chief and then hands it over to media via his friend". "He is not a head of the special services, but a human rights activist", Putin said.
PUTIN: (Through interpreter) We would be ready to offer political asylum to Mr. Comey if he's persecuted in the U.S. "He should be aware of that", the Russian president added.
Putin is becoming increasingly frustrated with allegations that Russian Federation interfered in the 2016 US election and used the call-in show to reaffirm his position.
He said the intelligence assessment is "thin" and simply doesn't have the evidence required.
American filmmaker Oliver Stone, who interviewed Russian President Vladimir Putin over two years, says Australia is "not an ally but a hostage" of the US.
We've got more newsletters we think you'll find interesting. "And there is surely their interference there". I know this from conversations with nearly all the heads of state. NGOs can do anything they want, even [the organizations] of any country of origin.
"I know I was sacked because of something about the way I was conducting the Russian Federation investigation was in some way putting pressure on (Trump, ) in some way irritating him, and he made a decision to fire me because of that", he said.
One caller, who claimed to be an American man in Arizona, asked Putin about "racist Russophobia" in the United States.
Congressman Tim Ryan questions Democrat leadership
It also did not help that the Democratic candidate ran an overly careful campaign and did not actually live in the district. Democrats need to net 24 seats to win back the House. "I don't know if there is a solution in the short term", Ryan said .
Another questioner asked how Putin would use a time machine if he had one.
"I know the mood of our people, we don't believe America is our enemy", Putin continued.
It was unclear if the questions were allowed onto the air deliberately, or due to a production error.
In response, President Putin insisted the questions were not prepared prior to the start of the show.
Putin acknowledged that the Russian economy hasn't yet shed its dependence on exports of raw materials, but noted that non-energy exports have been growing.
Navalny has been sentenced to 30 days behind bars after being detained Monday on his way to a protest in Moscow against government corruption. He better be careful or he might "have an accident" while in jail.
During the call-in show, Putin remained tight-lipped about his own plans.
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