“The American system is strong and it has managed it rather well, but you shouldn’t underestimate their capacity to protect their own interests.

“These issues were raised because of the political battle during the elections but, of course, if they have concrete evidence, they can take it up.

“Otherwise, I take it just as some interesting gossip and news that we enjoy, but not taken very seriously,” Anwar said in an interview with Russian state-owned news outlets RIA Novosti and RT on the sidelines of the Eastern Economic Forum in Vladivostok, Russia, today, Bernama reported.

On Wednesday, the US department of justice filed money laundering charges against two RT employees for what was described as a scheme to hire a US company to produce online content to influence the US presidential election.

The sanctions also included RIA Novosti, the Rossiya Segodnya media group, Sputnik, and Ruptly, and were imposed after officials in Washington accused the outlets of a campaign to influence the election.

The Eastern Economic Forum began on Tuesday and will run through Friday. It is being hosted by the Far Eastern Federal University in Vladivostok.