Some people's cows can moo

The Russians missed no opportunity to criticize Washington over the leaks. On Thursday, in Moscow, Prime Minister Vladimir V. Putin said that the West had no right to preach to Russia about democracy. Asked about cables depicting him as the “alpha-dog” boss of a corrupt and undemocratic bureaucracy, he said: “Do you think the American diplomatic service is a crystal clean source of information?”

Mr. Putin then criticized the arrest of Mr. Assange. “If it is full democracy, then why have they hidden Mr. Assange in prison? That’s what, democracy?” Mr. Putin asked.

“So, you know, as we say in the village, some people’s cows can moo, but yours should keep quiet. So I would like to shoot the puck back at our American colleagues,” he said.