Russia denounced leaked cables in which a Spanish prosecutor described the country as a "virtual mafia state" and oil experts suggested Prime Minister Putin had amassed illegal wealth.
In particular, a Switzerland-based firm trading in energy, Gunvor, is said to be under the personal control of Putin. Gunvor representatives denied the claim.
A coded message dated 8 February 2010 cites Spanish prosecutor José Gonzalez as telling US officials that he "cannot differentiate between the activities of the government and organised crime groups". The telegrams are signed by US Ambassdor to Moscow John Beyerle.
"The country that has such diplomats merits only pity," Dmitry Peskov, Putin's press secretary, was quoted as saying by the Russian press.
Peskov's strong-worded statement appears to indicate that Moscow could ask Beyerle to leave as a 'persona non grata'. Beyerle, a career diplomat, had until now enjoyed excellent relations in Moscow. His father, Joseph Beyrle, is a World War II veteran who is the only soldier to have fought in both the US and Soviet armies, and is considered a hero by the Russians.
According to another cable, Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi is said to have personally profited from energy deals between Italy and Russia.
The communications were written by former US ambassador Ronald Spogli and his successor in Rome, David Thorne.
Berlusconi, who was travelling to the Black Sea resort of Sochi yesterday (2 December) to meet Putin and Russian President Dimitry Medvedev, denied the allegations.
The US "is quite clear that I have absolutely no interest in any other country; that there are absolutely no personal interests, and that I only look after the interests of the Italians and my country," Berlusconi was quoted as saying by Italian news agency ANSA.
Spogli also said the Georgian ambassador in Rome had informed him that "Putin has promised Berlusconi a percentage of profits from any pipelines developed by Gazprom in co-ordination with [Italian energy giant] ENI".
The pipeline in question is South Stream, a Gazprom-ENI project that is seen as a rival to the EU-favoured Nabucco pipeline. Nabucco was initially promoted by the US administration in the early 1990s.
