[tinbad]

This is exactly what the Russian government would want you to do with this: question everything and everyone. You seem to at least admit that you were unable to verify some outrageous claims that the US has planted evidence against Russia. It has been proven time and time again that Russia doesn't shy away from systematically cheating in major sport competitions. This entirely adds up with my experience growing up there: status and perceived image have always ranked higher than truthfulness or honesty in Russian culture.

Also, based on your comment history, I'm not necessarily doubting your truthfulness but you do seem to be pushing a focussed agenda in your comments.

[elmo2you]

Your response sounds fair enough to me. One small thing I would like to add to it though. I'm actually not a fan of Russia (for a number of personal reasons). But I equally dislike how the things you mentioned about Russia are (in my opinion) also true in Europe and the USA. That is, at least on any meaningful level of power/influence. It might be better hidden under a thick layer of persistent cultural brainwashing, but that's about it for the difference. You could even argue that the reason why people in Russia don't even pretend to be honest, is because they already learned that they will get away with everything anyway (something powerful people in the US and EU are increasingly learning also, with increasingly blatant corrupt behaviour as a consequence).

Sure, the Russian government will welcome any form of friction within the US or EU, and probably will not hesitate to create it when they see a chance. But there is no need for any Russian propaganda to seed such doubts, because the US and EU do a marvellous job just on their own there.

Also, anyone who doesn't question the validity of something, once there appears to be any discrepancy (even if that turns out to be a false alarm), is either a blind believer or an idiot. The only agenda that I "push" is to indeed question everything. After having witnessed first hand what some US and EU based "humanitarian" organization do in other parts of the world, I think I have very good reasons to be extremely sceptical about any expansion of their "freedom and democracy".