WASHINGTON, March 30. /TASS/. A package of documents for deporting to the home country Russian national Maria Butina, charged with conspiracy to act as a foreign agent in the US, has been submitted to the judge, according to the court’s electronic database.

"It is hereby ordered… that the defendant is ordered removed from the United States to the Russian Federation promptly upon her sentencing," reads the draft order of judicial removal, submitted for signing to Judge Tanya Chutkan.

It also says that Butina "is, and at sentencing will be, subject for removal from the United States… as an alien who has engaged, is engaged or at any time after admission engages in ‘any other criminal activity which endangers public safety or national security.’"

The draft document also reiterates that as part of her plea deal, Butina "has waived the opportunity to pursue any and all forms of relief and protection from removal" from the US.

A statement by US Attorney Jessie Liu says "the United States of America requests that the Court, at the time of sentencing, order that the defendant be removed from the United States to Russia."

A statement by the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement says that the authorities are ready to implement a judicial order of removal upon receiving it.

The prosecutors also submitted a statement by Butina, in which she declares her intention to return back to Russia. She also confirmed that she had waved all rights to appeal, reconsider or otherwise challenge the order and agreed that she would not enter, attempt to enter or transit through the US without first seeking a permission from the US authorities.

Butina also confirmed the main details of the plea agreement, which she signed late last year.

On Thursday, the US District Court for the District of Colombia convened for another hearing on Butina case. During the session, Judge Tanya Chutkan announced that Butina would be sentenced on April 26.

 

Butina case

Maria Butina, 30, was arrested in Washington DC on July 15, right before the Helsinki meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and his US counterpart Donald Trump. The US Department of Justice said that she was 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.

On December 13, Butina pleaded guilty to conspiracy to violate the US law governing foreign agents operating in the country and signed a plea agreement. The prosecution said at the time that the process of Butina’s cooperation with the investigation might take some time.