Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday condemned the assassination of conservative commentator Charlie Kirk, calling last month's shooting in Utah a “disgusting atrocity.”

“You know, this disgusting atrocity, and even more so, live,” Putin said at a forum held by the Valdai Discussion Club in Sochi, Russia. “In fact, we all saw it, but I don't know, that's really disgusting, it looked horrible.”

“I first of all, of course, offer my condolences to the family of Mr. Kirk and all his loved ones,” the Russian leader continued. “We sympathize and empathize, especially since he defended those traditional values.”

He added that the fatal shooting is a sign of a "deep rift in society,” according to Reuters.

"In the United States, I don’t think there’s any need to escalate the........

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