The Russian security services do not carry out the murder of "traitors", Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin said on Thursday.
"The Russian security services do not use such methods," Putin said at his annual Q&A session, in response to a question as to whether he had even given orders to eliminate enemies of the state.
Putin said that it is no secret that some foreign security services practiced assassinations, giving Israel's Mossad as an example.
Referring to July's spy row between Moscow and Washington, when 10 Russian spies were arrested in the United States after an alleged intelligence officer's betrayal, Putin said traitors had no future.
"Just think of it. A person sacrificed his life and then some scum pops up to betray his people. Swine!" Putin, a former KGB officer, added.
MOSCOW, December 16 (RIA Novosti)
