Putin: Russia will never extradite its citizens to US

Russian President Vladimir Putin has stated that they would not extradite their 13 nationals accused of meddling in the 2016 United States (U.S.) presidential elections.

According to the Russian news agency TASS, which quoted Putin from an interview he had recently given to the American news channel, NBC TV, the president also said the accused indicted in special counsel Robert Mueller's investigation did not act on Russian state's behalf.

"I know that they did not represent the Russian state, the Russian authorities. What they did specifically, I have no idea", Putin said.

He also called upon the US to provide some reliable evidence of the alleged wrong-doings by the Russians. "Let them just not talk to the press, let them provide some materials, specifics and data. We will be prepared to look at them and talk about them", he said.

Last month, the U.S. Department of Justice indicted 13 individuals and three organisations from Russia for allegedly interfering in the US presidential election in 2016. Businessman Yevgeny Prigozhin and 12 staff members of the Internet Research Agency in St. Petersburg were charged by Mueller for taking part in efforts to "defraud the United States".

U.S. President Donald Trump and his team have repeatedly denied suspicions of illegal contact with Russian officials during the election campaign. Moscow has also been denying allegations of trying to influence the U.S. presidential election.