The Kremlin is dismissing an American football team owner’s account of how President Vladimir Putin obtained his diamond-encrusted Super Bowl ring when they met eight years ago.
"The New York Post" newspaper quoted New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft as saying he intended only to show Putin the $25,000 ring in 2005.
Kraft said he put his hand out to take the ring back from Putin. But he said the Russian president put it in his pocket, "and three KGB guys got around him and walked out."
But Putin's spokesman Dmitry Peskov says Kraft clearly meant the ring to be a gift.
About 70 of the rings are given each year to the team that wins the annual American football championship.
"The New York Post" newspaper quoted New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft as saying he intended only to show Putin the $25,000 ring in 2005.
Kraft said he put his hand out to take the ring back from Putin. But he said the Russian president put it in his pocket, "and three KGB guys got around him and walked out."
But Putin's spokesman Dmitry Peskov says Kraft clearly meant the ring to be a gift.
About 70 of the rings are given each year to the team that wins the annual American football championship.
