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Medvedev said Thursday the presumptive Republican presidential candidate's pledge to have Russia expelled from the international organization if he wins the U.S. presidency was overblown, RIA Novosti reported.

"As far as I know, recently no one has been saying this. It is perfectly clear that any calls to expel Russia or to pressure Russia are simply not serious", Medvedev said.

McCain said last October Russia should not be a G8 member since the country included "diminishing political freedoms, a leadership dominated by a clique of former intelligence officers, (and) efforts to bully democratic neighbors."

Medvedev countered such comments by saying the Group of Eight represented those countries that are most influential to foreign policy in the international community, RIA Novosti said.

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