(CNN) — Russian President Vladimir Putin has made brief comments about the ongoing criminal proceedings against former US President Donald Trump, calling them political persecution.

Speaking in Vladivostok on Tuesday, Putin said, “As far as the case against Trump is concerned, it is good for us under the current conditions. Because it shows the rot of an American system that has no hope of teaching others about democracy.

“The only thing happening with Trump is harassing a political rival for political reasons. It’s being done in front of the public of America and the entire world.

Putin continued: “They simply exposed their internal problems, and in this sense, that’s good [para nosotros] Because it shows who is fighting against us, it shows the brutal look, the brutal smile of American imperialism, as they said in the Soviet era.

The Russian president also said that no matter who becomes the next president of the United States, nothing is likely to change radically in terms of anti-Russian sentiment. [Estados Unidos] Consider Russia an enemy and an enemy.