Russia's Putin: Panama papers are 'provocation'

Russian President Vladimir Putin calls media reports about offshore accounts in Panama a "provocation".

"The information is reliable. Judging by its style and the facts contained in it I get an impression it was prepared not by media, but rather by lawyers. They do not accuse anyone of anything specifically, they just muddy the waters. Some of my friends are involved in certain businesses, and here comes a question: does the money these from these offshore accounts get into wallets of certain state servants or the president?"

"What Sergei Pavlovich Roldugin bought - I think he bought two violins and two cellos - these are unique instruments. The last one he bought - I will mention it because it has already been mentioned on internet - (its value) is about $12 million."

"I can suggest to thieves and the like to calm down, because Sergei Pavlovich has nothing left. To buy these instruments he spent more than he had, he owes (money) to institutions, foundations through which he bought them. Who is behind these provocations? We know that among them there are staff of official US institutions."

"Süddeutsche Zeitung is a part of a media holding which belongs to the US financial corporation Goldman Sachs. The ears of the instigator are sticking out everywhere but they don't even redden."

"What matters - is that the country cannot be manipulated, cannot be forced to do what someone else wants, to dance to someone else's tune. If we are talked to in a respectable way, if they try to look for compromises, the same way we always do, then we will always find a solution which will satisfy both us and our partners."