Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin said on Tuesday he hoped the latest spy scandal would not damage Russian-U.S. ties.
"Your police are out of hand, jailing people," he said during a meeting with former U.S. President Bill Clinton.
"I hope the positive developments that have been accumulated recently will not be damaged," Putin said.
Moscow admitted 11 members of an alleged spy ring arrested in the United States were Russian nationals, but denied they had acted against the United States.
The Russian Foreign Ministry said they were "Russian citizens who found themselves on U.S. territory at different times."
"They have not committed any actions directed against U.S. interests."
It said Moscow hoped they would be "well treated while in custody" and that U.S. authorities would grant Russian lawyers access to them.
MOSCOW, June 29 (RIA Novosti)
