REUTERS
In the early 2000s the Russian special services recorded direct contacts between North Caucasian militiamen and U.S. intelligence officials in Azerbaijan, Russian President Vladimir Putin stated in a film entitled “The President”, Ukrainian news broadcaster Podrobnosti has reported.
Immediately after Russia’s special services became aware of the contacts, the Russian leader asked for clarification from the then U.S. president who promised to deal with this problem.
"And ten days later my subordinates, the leaders of the FSB, received a letter from their colleagues in Washington reading: "We have supported and will continue maintaining relationships with all opposition forces of Russia. And we think we have the right to do this, and will do so in the future," Putin said.