Moscow, December 9 (KCNA) -- Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin harshly criticized the U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton for her reckless remark on Dec. 8.

The secretary called the election to the State Duma in Russia an unfair one even before receiving information from election observers, he said, adding Clinton "gave a signal" to his opponents.

Putin said Russia should defend its sovereignty.

"We need to think about strengthening the law and holding more responsible those who carry out the task of a foreign government to influence our internal political process," Putin said.