Putin says 'patriotic' Russian hackers may have targetted US election

Russian President Vladimir Putin seemed to suggest on Thursday that "patriotic hackers" may have meddled in the US election, but insisted that none of their potential activities were state-backed.

It's the first time the Russian leader has conceded that any election-related hacking attacks may have emanated from his country. In comments to reporters at the St. Petersburg Economic Forum, Putin likened hackers to "artists," who could act on behalf of Russia if they felt its interests were being threatened. "(Artists) may act on behalf of their country, they wake up in good mood and paint things. Same with hackers, they woke up today, read something about the state-to-state relations.

"If they are patriotic, they contribute in a way they think is right, to fight against those who say bad things about Russia," Putin said.

Putin on Friday called for an end to allegations that Moscow meddled in the US election, as he tried to highlight a fragile economic recovery.

The Kremlin strongman launched a blistering attack on accusations he said were baseless that Moscow was behind a hacking and influence campaign aimed at getting Donald Trump elected. "This useless and harmful chatter needs to stop," Putin told Russia's annual showcase economic forum in Saint Petersburg.

"This is a transferral, I repeat, of internal political squabbling in the United States onto the international arena," Putin said. "It is harmful, it damages international relations and the world economy and security issues and the fight with terrorism."

US intelligence has accused Putin of ordering a hacking and influence campaign to tilt last year's election in Trump's favour, after the billionaire pledged to boost ties with Moscow. Putin said that the allegations against Moscow "reminds me of anti-Semitism. The Jews are blamed for everything".

The West has slapped economic sanctions on Moscow, while Russia has responded with its own punitive measures. At a meeting with US business leaders earlier Putin urged them to help Moscow establish a dialogue with Trump, as ties remains deadlocked amid probes into possible collusion.

Putin also said he believes former US National Security Agency contractor Edward Snowden was wrong to leak US spy secrets, but is no traitor. Snowden, 33, was given asylum in Russia in 2013 after leaking classified information about U.S. spy operations.

His lawyer said in January Snowden had the right to remain in Russia until 2020 and to apply for Russian citizenship next year. Putin, a former KGB officer and ex-head of Russia's FSB security service, made his comments about Snowden in an interview with U.S. film director Oliver Stone, excerpts of which were released ahead of its broadcast by US TV network Showtime from June 12. "Snowden is not a traitor," said Putin. "He did not betray the interests of his country, nor did he transfer any information to any other country that would damage his own people," said Putin.