Detained in the United States, the Russian told the court about his innocence
WASHINGTON, July 18. /TASS/. Citizen of Russia Maria Butina, previously detained by U.S. authorities, said on Wednesday in Federal court in the US capital about his innocence. The hearing was held in the district court of Washington. Chaired by the judge Deborah Robinson, the correspondent of TASS.
Butino arrested in Washington on July 15. On Tuesday against her was indicted on two counts. 29-year-old Russian is accused of, firstly, participation in the conspiracy business in favor of a foreign state on the territory of the United States. Second, us intelligence agencies claim that Butina did the same activity without being registered with the Ministry of justice agent of a foreign state.
About the detention of the Russian citizen the U.S. justice Department said on Monday. Meanwhile, the lawyer of Butynol Robert Neil Driscoll said that his client was not trying to influence any US policy or undermine it, and are against her accusations exaggerated. In addition, the lawyer drew attention to the fact that a few months ago when a Russian woman is interested in local government, she’s on her own gave testimony in the special Committee of the Senate of the U.S. Congress and gave the legislators the thousands of required documents. The citizen of the Russian Federation could face up to 15 years in prison if she’s convicted.
The official representative of Russian foreign Ministry Maria Zakharova said that Moscow considers the claims to Butinai from the United States “absolutely far-fetched”.
“The impression that the FBI is dealing with his main responsibilities in the fight against crime, Frank performs a political order. As we understand, it comes from those forces that continue to escalate Russophobic hysteria, which periodically throw new fictional sensation about the alleged Russian interference in American internal processes”, — said Zakharov.
According to her, the Russian government is taking “all possible measures to protect the rights and legitimate interests” Butinai.