Russian premier slams US officials' rude characterization of working relationship with Medvedev

Vladimir Putin is not happy about donning the role of Batman for the amusement of American diplomats, according to The Moscow News.

In an interview with CNN’s Larry King, due to be aired on Thursday at 5am Moscow Time, the prime minister slammed “rude” characterisation of his working relationship with President Dmitry Medvedev.

And dubbing the pair “Batman and Robin” – with Putin earmarked as the dark knight to junior partner Medvedev – clearly irked the politician.

“It is intended to slander one of us,” Putin said, according to a transcript on CNN’s website.

“The truth is that this is about our interaction, which is an important factor of domestic politics in our country."

“But to be honest, we did not suspect that this would be expressed so arrogantly, with such rudeness and, you know, being so unethically done.”

With Wikileaks also carrying comments from US Defense Secretary Robert Gates lamenting the “disappearance” of Russian democracy and its replacement with an “oligarchy run by the security services”, Putin had more to say about the scandal.

And he dismissed Gates as “deeply misled” and pointed out that America’s electoral system also has flaws – highlighted by George W. Bush’s hugely controversial win in 2000.

“When we are talking with our American friends and tell them there are systematic problems we can hear from them: ‘Don’t interfere in our affairs. This is our tradition and it will continue.’

“We are not interfering, but I would like to advise our colleagues – don’t interfere either with the sovereign choice of the Russian people.”