When Russian President Vladimir Putin was pressed on his human rights record especially his opposition to pro-democracy efforts in Russia he quickly pivoted to criticize the Jan. 6th Capitol riot. Putin noted that the Capitol riot shows that people can get killed “even in the U.S.”

According to The Washington Examiner:

“As for who is killing whom and throwing whom in jail,” Putin said Wednesday through translators after being grilled by a reporter on his crackdown on pro-democracy activists in his country, before citing the Jan. 6 attack on Capitol Hill.

Putin defended himself against allegations of human rights abuse within his borders by comparing Russia to U.S. actions in Guantanamo Bay and the number of gun deaths reported stateside, as well as CIA detention centers around the world, where he contended prisoners are mistreated.

“People are getting killed” on the streets of America, Putin said. “You can get a bullet in the back of a neck.”

“Who is the killer now?” he said.

Putin was also asked whether he fears the rising opposition from leader Alexei Navalny, which he denied.