MOSCOW, Nov 10 (Reuters) - The Russian government was in touch with members of President-elect Donald Trump's political team during the U.S. election campaign and knows most of his entourage, one of Russia's most senior diplomats told the Interfax news agency on Thursday.

Accused by defeated Democratic contender Hillary Clinton of being a puppet of President Vladimir Putin after praising the Russian leader, Trump has dismissed suggestions he had anything to do with the Russian government during the campaign.

But in comments that could prove politically awkward for the president-elect, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov said there had indeed been some communications.

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14 PHOTOS Inside Trump's election night event See Gallery Inside Trump's election night event NEW YORK, NY - NOVEMBER 08: Last minute preparations are being made for Republican presidential candidate Donald Trumps' election night party at Hilton Midtown hotel in Manhattan on November 8, 2016 in New York City. Today Americans will head to the polls and vote for the next president of the United States. (Photo by Mark Wilson/Getty Images) NEW YORK, NY - NOVEMBER 08: Workers prepare the room for Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump for his election night party at the New York Hilton Midtown on November 8, 2016 in New York City. Voters head to the polls to decide the next President of the United States. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images) NEW YORK, NY - NOVEMBER 08: 'The All-Seeing Trump,' a parody of a fortune-telling machine is seen near where the election night party for Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump will be held at the New York Hilton Midtown on November 8, 2016 in New York City. Voters head to the polls to decide the next President of the United States. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images) NEW YORK, NY - NOVEMBER 08: Preperations take place before Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump holds his election night event at The New York Hilton Midtown on November 8, 2016 in New York City. (Photo by Neilson Barnard/WireImage) NEW YORK, NY - NOVEMBER 08: Signs in support of Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump read 'Hispanics for Trump' at the New York Hilton Midtown on November 8, 2016 in New York City. 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(Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images) An attendee holds a sign reading 'The Silent Majority Stands With Trump' during an election night party for 2016 Republican Presidential Nominee Donald Trump at the Hilton Midtown hotel in New York, U.S., on Tuesday, Nov. 8, 2016. Fifty-one percent of voters nationally were bothered a lot by Trump's treatment of women, while Democrat Hillary Clinton's use of private e-mail while secretary of state was troubling to 44 percent, according to preliminary exit polling as voting neared a close in some states. Photographer: Andrew Harrer/Bloomberg via Getty Images A television screen displays continuing results during an election night party for 2016 Republican Presidential Nominee Donald Trump at the Hilton Midtown hotel in New York, U.S., on Tuesday, Nov. 8, 2016. Fifty-one percent of voters nationally were bothered a lot by Trump's treatment of women, while Democrat Hillary Clinton's use of private e-mail while secretary of state was troubling to 44 percent, according to preliminary exit polling as voting neared a close in some states. Photographer: Andrew Harrer/Bloomberg via Getty Images NEW YORK, NY - NOVEMBER 08: People cheer at Republican presidential nominee Donald TrumpÂs election night event at the New York Hilton Midtown on November 8, 2016 in New York City. Americans today will choose between Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump and Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton as they go to the polls to vote for the next president of the United States. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images) NEW YORK, NY - NOVEMBER 08: People cheer as voting results for Florida come in at Republican presidential nominee Donald TrumpÂs election night event at the New York Hilton Midtown on November 8, 2016 in New York City. Americans today will choose between Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump and Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton as they go to the polls to vote for the next president of the United States. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images) NEW YORK, NY - NOVEMBER 08: An attendee holds up a sign in support of Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump that reads 'Hispanics For Trump' during the election night event at the New York Hilton Midtown on November 8, 2016 in New York City. Americans today will choose between Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump and Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton as they go to the polls to vote for the next president of the United States. (Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images) NEW YORK, NY - NOVEMBER 08: Attendees check their phones during Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump's election night event at the New York Hilton Midtown on November 8, 2016 in New York City. Americans today will choose between Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump and Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton as they go to the polls to vote for the next president of the United States. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images) NEW YORK, NY - NOVEMBER 08: Guests attend the election night event for Republican Presidential Nominee Donald Trump at The New York Hilton Midtown on November 8, 2016 in New York City. (Photo by Neilson Barnard/WireImage) Up Next See Gallery Discover More Like This HIDE CAPTION SHOW CAPTION of SEE ALL BACK TO SLIDE

"There were contacts," Interfax cited Ryabkov as saying. "We are doing this and have been doing this during the election campaign."

Such contacts would continue, he added, saying the Russian government knew and had been in touch with many of Trump's closest allies. He did not name names.

"Obviously, we know most of the people from his (Trump's)entourage. Those people have always been in the limelight in the United States and have occupied high-ranking positions," he said.

"I cannot say that all of them, but quite a few have been staying in touch with Russian representatives."

Moscow was just beginning to consider how to go about setting up more formal channels to communicate with the future Trump administration, said Ryabkov.

A spokeswoman for Trump did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

FBI INQUIRY

The Federal Bureau of Investigation opened a preliminary inquiry in recent months into allegations that Trump or his associates might have had questionable dealings with Russian people or businesses, but found no evidence to warrant opening a full investigation, according to sources familiar with the matter. The agency has not publicly discussed the probe.

The U.S. government has blamed Russia for cyber attacks on Democratic Party organizations.

Trump, who has spoken of his desire to improve tattered U.S.-Russia ties, has said he might meet Putin before his inauguration, but Putin's spokesman has said there are currently no plans for such a meeting.

Interfax reported on Wednesday that Dmitry Peskov, Putin's spokesman, would be in New York this week for a chess tournament, a few blocks from Trump Tower, where the president-elect has his office.

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But it cited Peskov as saying he did not plan to pass any message to Trump from Putin.

The Russian parliament erupted in applause on Wednesday when it heard that Trump had been elected and Putin told foreign ambassadors he was ready to fully restore ties with Washington.

Ryabkov was more circumspect though, saying the Russian Foreign Ministry felt no euphoria about the Republican's win despite wanting to normalize relations with Washington.

Moscow and Washington are at odds over Syria, Ukraine and NATO.

Ryabkov said Trump's allies had made some tough statements about Russia during the campaign and that his ministry was therefore not harboring any "rose-tinted" hopes.

"We are not expecting anything in particular from the new U.S. administration," Interfax cited Ryabkov as saying.

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