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Media: Butina’s boyfriend may face espionage charges

Law enforcement reportedly asked around about Paul Erickson's business dealings and his reputation in conservative political circles

Maria Butina Anton Novoderezhkin/TASS

Maria Butina

© Anton Novoderezhkin/TASS

WASHINGTON, December 5. /TASS/. Paul Erickson, a consultant for the US Republican party and boyfriend of Russian citizen Maria Butina jailed in the US, has received a so-called target letter from federal investigators, which states that they are considering bringing charges against Erickson on the grounds of him secretly acting as an agent of a foreign government, the Daily Beast website informed on Wednesday.

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Diplomat 'outraged' by tightening of prison conditions for Maria Butina

Sources of the online media outlet inform that Erickson’s lawyer received a letter, which claims that the US federal investigation may charge him under "Section 951 of the US code the law barring people from secretly acting as agents of foreign governments."

A source familiar with the investigation told The Daily Beast that US federal investigation officers have conducted interviews with people close to Erickson, and that some of them provided official statements to the FBI.

However, the media outlet notes that this letter does not guarantee that Erickson will be charged with any crime.

Butina case

Russian citizen Maria Butina, 30, was arrested in Washington DC on July 15.

According to the US Department of Justice, she is suspected of acting "as an agent of Russia inside the United States by developing relationships with US persons and infiltrating organizations having influence in American politics, for the purpose of advancing the interests of the Russian Federation."

On July 21, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov demanded in a telephone conversation with US Secretary of State Michael Pompeo that Butina be released as soon as possible. He also slammed all charges brought against her as fabricated.

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According to Vasily Nebenzya, the Security Council should "bring peace, stability and prosperity to the Middle East"

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US-led coalition aircraft violate Syrian airspace 14 times in past day

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The New York Times reported on November 17 that US President Joe Biden had authorized the use of US-supplied ATACMS tactical ballistic missiles for strikes inside Russia

Ex-UK Labor party leader wants PM to clarify situation with Storm Shadow missiles

Jeremy Corbyn called for de-escalation of the situationin Ukraine and the search for a diplomatic solution to achieve peace

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IAEA once again fails to hold Kiev responsible for threats to Zaporozhye NPP — diplomat

Russian envoy to international organizations in Vienna Mikhail Ulyanov pointed out that from September 23 to November 12, the Russian servicemen suppressed 556 drones near the plant and Energodar

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Previously, the media reported that the International Criminal Court had issued an arrest warrant for former Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant for presumed war crimes and crimes against humanity committed between October 8, 2023, and May 20, 2024, in Palestine, including in the Gaza Strip

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The top Russian diplomat will also hold an official meeting with his Belarusian counterpart Maxim Ryzhenkov

Russia not obliged to notify anyone about launch of intermediate-range missile — Kremlin

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Russian ambassador says UK prime minister doesn’t understand situation in Ukraine

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Russian army units have advanced much farther into the city’s northern part, in particular, along the southern bank of the Kurakhovo reservoir, Vladimir Rogov specified

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According to Dmitry Suslov, retaliatory measures may include the handover of more advanced weapons to the forces "that are directly fighting against the US, particularly, in the Middle East"

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The Russian president said that "all the goals we set for ourselves are being achieved"

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Russian air defense deflects attacks with Western missiles — Putin

"As a result, the goals that the enemy apparently set have not been achieved," the Russian leader said

US makes mistake by destroying INF Treaty — Putin

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Igor Kimakovsky said that "if the West is not physically involved in this war, that is, if NATO is not involved, then Ukraine is actually losing"

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EU considers ICC warrants against Netanyahu, Gallant as binding — foreign policy chief

According to Josep Borrell, the situation in the Gaza Strip "is apocalyptic," and "there are no more words" to describe it

Putin orders protection of critical infrastructure, including Crimean Bridge — Kremlin

Kiev has not accepted the legitimate results of the 2014 referendum, in which the people of Crimea and Sevastopol voted to become part of Russia, and is displeased by the operation of the Crimean Bridge, which connects the Kerch Strait with the Krasnodar Region

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The journalist also criticized US House of Representatives Speaker Mike Johnson (a Republican representing the state of Louisiana) for "not even mentioning it in public or in leadership meetings" with factions in the lower house of Congress

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Governor Mikhail Razvozhayev said that all emergencies services currently work in the high alert mode

Russia to use revenues from frozen assets of Western investors — Finance Minister

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ATACMS missiles unlikely to keep Kiev from losing conflict — American expert

Daniel Davis also noted that "continuing to ignore reality" would only increase "the ultimate cost of losing" the conflict for Ukraine

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Vladimir Zelensky also talked about the Crimean Peninsula, stating that Kiev is ready to "bring Crimea back diplomatically"

Media from unfriendly states will be admitted to Putin's annual press conference — Kremlin

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Russia encircles largest Ukrainian fortification in southern DPR — security services

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Ukrainian special services assemble unit for sabotage attacks in Kupyansk — official

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Residents of Kupyansk, Kovsharovka in Kharkov Region returning to their homes

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US decision on missile strikes aimed at provoking Russia, expert says

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NATO supports Ukraine not out of charity but for its own strategic interests — deputy head

Boris Ruge argued that NATO now has hundreds of thousands of troops that could be deployed to the alliance's eastern flank or elsewhere within ten days

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