Why would Putinist Russia prefer Tulsi after stuffing millions into Hill & Bill’s pockets? Makes no sense.
Plausible deniability...
Putin feared that Clinton would be able to make war on his proxies with the full throated support of her amen chorus in the MSM, and the tacit support of the anti-war left. Remember Putin and his advisors thought she would win, they just wanted to make trouble in the election hoping to have her tied up with domestic concerns.