Vladimir Putin conceded on Thursday that maybe, just maybe, \u201cpatriotic\u201d citizen-hackers from Russia could interfere in the democratic processes of other countries. Atacit acknowledgement of interference in the US election? An unsubtle mockingof the US following rescinded sanctions? Could be! Mostly, though, you can consider this just another page fromPutin\u2019s playbook of misdirection. \u201cHackers are free people like artists,\u201d Putin saidat the St.