Bernie Sanders slams Russia after reports Moscow trying to help his presidential campaign

Washington: Democratic presidential front runner for the US 2020 election Bernie Sanders on Friday slams Russia after reports suggested that Moscow trying to help his presidential campaign.

US officials have told presidential contender Bernie Sanders that Russia is trying to help his campaign, the Washington Post reports.

Republican President Donald Trump and US lawmakers have also been informed about the Russian assistance to Senator Sanders, said the Post on Friday, citing unnamed people familiar with the matter.

It was not clear what form the Russian assistance had taken, the paper added.

The socialist presidential candidate, running for the Democratic nomination, condemned Russian efforts to interfere in the election.

Immediately after the report, Sanders wrote: "I don't care, frankly, who Putin wants to be president. My message to Putin is clear: Stay out of American elections, and as president I will make sure that you do."

Sanders continued: "Unlike Donald Trump, I do not consider Vladimir Putin a good friend. He is an autocratic thug who is attempting to destroy democracy and crush dissent in Russia.

"Let's be clear, the Russians want to undermine American democracy by dividing us up and, unlike the current president, I stand firmly against their efforts, and any other foreign power that wants to interfere in our election."

Reuters, AP