MOSCOW, August 9. /TASS/. Russia is doing the best it can to protect the rights of the Russian nationals detained in the United States in early August, Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova told reporters at a press briefing on Thursday.

According to the diplomat, Moscow is concerned about new arrests of Russian citizens in the US. "Last week, FBI agents detained Maxim Suverin, Stanislav Lisitsky, Alexei Livadny and Nikolai Tupikin on charges of fraud and money laundering as members of a criminal group," she recalled. "The Russian Embassy in Washington asked the US Department of State to provide explanations concerning this incident and the Consulate General in New York got in touch with the local FBI office and held a meeting with Maxim Suverin who is in a pre-trial detention center."

"We are working to determine the whereabouts of the remaining prisoners and arrange a consular meeting with them," Zakharova noted. "We continue to keep a close eye on the situation. Concurrently, we are taking all possible measures to protect the rights and legal interests of our citizens."

According to a 10-page indictment included in the Pacer.gov database, the Russian nationals detained in the US in early August were involved in a fraudulent scheme targeting individuals who tried to purchase goods via the Internet. In particular, the Russians allegedly published advertisements on selling rare cars and offered clients to transfer funds to the accounts of fly-by-night companies. Then they withdrew the funds and transferred them to their bank accounts.

Butina’s case

US investigative authorities exert permanent psychological pressures on detained Russian citizen Maria Butina in attempts to make her plead guilty, she said.

"Butina is subject to continued psychological pressures. Her cell is repeatedly searched, medical assistance is denied and various restrictions that do not apply to other prisoners to are imposed," Zakharova said. "It is obvious that all these steps are nothing but attempts to make Maria Butina plead guilty. It is likewise clear that all charges against our citizen are far-fetched."

"The political motives of the whole affair are obvious, too. The case is being fabricated from reports in social networks taken out of the context. In this connection we strongly demand an end to Maria Butina’s persecution and her release from custody. She has fallen victim to internal political struggle in the United States," Zakharova added.

Maria Butina, 29, is accused of conspiracy against the US and of acting as an unregistered foreign agent. US special services claim that Butina conducted such activity without being registered as a foreign agent at the Department of Justice. Butina was arrested in Washington on July 15. The court has remanded her in custody until a court session due on September 10.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov in a telephone conversation with US Secretary of State Michael Pompeo on July 21 demanded Butina’s immediate release from custody. Lavrov described the charges against her as fabricated.

Butina went to the United States for studying international relations. Last spring she received a master’s degree at American University in Washington.