The court refused to release on bail detained in the US Russian woman Butina

A federal court refused to release on bail a Russian woman, Maria Butina, who was detained in the United States, would be held in custody during the investigation and trial.

Butinu was detained on July 15, accused of conspiring and maintaining unregistered activities in the interests of Russia in the United States, writes USA Today.

During the court hearing, prosecutors said that the detainee had connections with Russian intelligence and that there was a serious risk that she would leave the United States. As a result, the judge supported the prosecution.

Judge Deborah Robinson said she did not see a situation in which Butina’s return to court, where she would face the two charges against her, is guaranteed. Especially considering that on one of the charges she faces up to 10 years in prison. Therefore, the court made a decision on keeping the suspect in custody.

Lawyer Robert Driscoll, who represents the interests of Butina, said that his client did not admit her guilt, and also denied the suspicion that a woman might try to leave the country.

During the hearing, the lead prosecutor in the case showed a photo of Butin during a meeting with the alleged Russian intelligence officer at a restaurant in Washington.

According to the investigation, Butina has access to thousands of dollars and "the intention to withdraw this money from the United States."

During the arrest, women found boxes in the apartment, which, according to investigators, indicate their intention to leave.

“All persons with whom Butina has known personal connections, with the exception of the Americans whom she attempted to exploit, reside in the Russian Federation,” court documents state.

Recall 15 July in Washington Russian citizen Maria Butina detained on suspicion of trying to influence US policy on the instructions of a high-ranking Kremlin official.

She was officially charged on two counts. — in conspiracy to work as a foreign agent and in acting as a foreign agent without appropriate registration.

The Russian woman used personal relationships as a means for introducing American organizations into interests to Butinu and acquaintances with influential politicians, the investigation says.

“During the investigation, the FBI determined that Butina had gained access to a wide range of people in the United States who could influence political activities through 1 Persona. Butina's 29-year-old and 56-year-old Persona 1 were allegedly cohabitants and had personal relationships during Butina’s actions in the United States, ”the prosecutor’s office concluded.

Butina herself did not take these relationships seriously, but took them as a necessary part of her activities, the investigators suggest.

“At least once, Butina offered another person, not 1 Person, sex in exchange for a position in the organization of interest. In addition, in the documents seized by the FBI, Butina complained about her life with “1 Person” and wrote with disdain about further cohabitation with “1 Person”, the documents state.

The court documents indicate that Butina acted under the leadership of a high-ranking Russian official and tried to arrange meetings with "US residents with influence on American politics, including an organization that promotes gun ownership <...> in order to advance the interests of the Russian Federation."

The prosecution does not name either a Russian official or an organization defending the right to own a weapon. However, the publication clarifies that we are talking about the ex-senator Alexander Torshin. Butina worked before his assistant. She and Torshin are members of the US National Rifle Association. Since 2016, Butina has lived in the United States on a student visa. She was one of the members of the Russian delegation at the National Prayer Breakfast in the United States, at which Donald Trump spoke.

As previously wrote ForumDaily, in investigating Butina’s activities took FBI participation, which gained access to her correspondence and the contents of her phone. In conclusion, special agent FBI Kevin Helson, attached to the charges against Butina, is attributed to her complicity in the creation of a secret channel of communication between the elites of the Republican Party and the Russian leadership. Allegedly, while studying at a university in Washington from the year of 2015 to 2017, Butin acted as a Kremlin agent of influence. It is stated that she received instructions from a high-ranking Russian official, whose name is not reported.

Earlier, the Russian Embassy in the United States said it was seeking Washington to provide consular access to Butina. The embassy noted that so far this opportunity has not been given.

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