Russian President Vladimir Putin contended that he cannot take action unless it goes "through official channels, not through the press or yelling and hollering in the United States Congress." | Alexander Nemenov/AFP/Getty Images Putin claims he can't respond to Mueller's charges if those involved didn't violate Russian law

Russian President Vladimir Putin said Friday the Kremlin can't respond to charges that Russian nationals meddled in the 2016 president election if those involved did "not violate Russian laws."

Putin said during in and interview with NBC New's Megyn Kelly that he cannot know whether Russian law was violated and would need to "first see what they've done."


"You have to understand what it takes is an official request to the general prosecutor of the Russian Federation," Putin said of taking action on those that were indicted. "Give us a document, give us an official request."

Thirteen Russian nationals and three Russian entities were indicted by special counsel Robert Mueller last month with an illegal "information warfare" scheme to disrupt the 2016 presidential election and assist Donald Trump.

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Kelly said that Putin said the same thing when she last interviewed him in June 2017 before the latest indictments.

Putin contended that he cannot take action unless it goes "through official channels, not through the press or yelling and hollering in the United States Congress."

Putin has previously denied that Russia tried to influence the 2016 election.