He stated this during an online discussion organized by the Center for National Interests in Washington.

“These assumptions, circulated by the media, are a complete lie,” RIA Novosti quoted him as saying.

Antonov added that no substantive evidence of these allegations was presented.

The ambassador also stressed that Russia does not want the victory of terrorism in Afghanistan.

At the end of June, The New York Times, citing sources, stated that Russian military intelligence allegedly offered rewards to Taliban * militants for attacks on American soldiers in Afghanistan.

Later, the Russian Foreign Ministry called this publication "unpretentious stuffing." The Russian Foreign Ministry noted that this clearly illustrates the "low intellectual ability of propagandists from American intelligence."

* "Taliban" - the organization was recognized as terrorist by the decision of the Supreme Court of the Russian Federation of February 14, 2003.