Except in this case, all Russia can be is a link in the hearsay chain back to the source of pressure, the source of pressure being that Lynch is going to throw the Clinton server investigation. The material factor is Lynch throwing the investigation; not that the Russians know Lynch is going to throw the investigation.
The alternative is that the Russian communication is a hoax, a joke, a parody, immaterial to ANY investigation.
The Russian account is at least plausible.