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Charges against Russian citizen detained in US ‘overblown’, says attorney

According to the attorney, several months ago Butina cooperated with various government entities against the background of allegations laid over her contacts with Russian and US officials

WASHINGTON, July 17. /TASS/. The substance of charges against Russian citizen Maria Butina, detained in Washington by US special services, is overblown, her attorney Robert Neil Driscoll said in a statement obtained by TASS.

"Ms. Butina is not an agent of the Russian Federation. She is a Russian national in the United States on a stundent visa who recently graduated from American University in Washington, D.C. with a Masters degree in International Relations," he said. "She has received her work permit and is seeking to use her degree to pursue a career in business."

"The substance of charge in the Compliant is overblown," he went on. ‘There is simply no indication of Butina seeking to influence or undermine any specific policy or law in the United States - only at most to promote a better relationship between the two nations."

According to the attorney, several months ago Butina cooperated with various government entities against the background of allegations laid over her contacts with Russian and US officials.

"Months ago, she voluntarily and privately testified before the bipartisan United States Senate Select Committee on Intelligence for 8 hours and produced thousands of documents," the statement reads. "She would have provided testimony and documents to federal law enforcement if requested to do so."

Besides, she also offered to interview with the office of Special Councel Robert Mueller, tasked with investigating alleged Russian interference in the US elections, but the office "has not expressed interest."

The Russian embassy in Washington said it was looking into the circumstances of the case.

"Consular Section of the Russian Embassy in Washington, DC clarifies the circumstances of Maria Butina's detention and her whereabouts," the embassy said in a Facebook post. "We are in contact with the US authorities and demand from them consular access to the Russian citizen in order to protect her legitimate rights."

The US Department of Justice said in a statement on Monday that Butina was detained in Washington on July 15 on charges of acting "as an agent of Russia inside the United States by developing relationships with U.S. persons and infiltrating organizations having influence in American politics, for the purpose of advancing the interests of the Russian Federation."

According to the document, the Russian citizen faces up to 15 years in prison if found guilty. Court hearings in Butina’s case have been scheduled to take place on July 18, in the District of Colombia. Butina will remain in detention until that day.

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