D.C. College Student Charged With Being An Agent Of Russian Government

Maria Butina

A 29-year-old Russian woman living in Washington D.C. was arrested and charged "with conspiracy to act as an agent of the Russian Federation within the United States," according to a press release issued by the Department of Justice

Federal officials said that Maria Butina, who was attending American University, "worked at the direction of a high-level official in the Russian government," from 2015 to at least February 2017. They accused her of "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."

Butina acquired an "F-l Student Visa, for the purported purpose of attending university full time in the District of Columbia' when in truth and in fact, Butina continued to act as an agent on b€half of the Russian Federation."

Butina was accused of trying to infiltrate an "organization promoting gun rights," though the organization was never named in the affidavit. According to Fox News, Butina was the founder of a pro-gun rights Russian advocacy organization Right to Bear Arms and was seen in Facebook photos attending NRA-sponsored events. 

If convicted, Butina faces a maximum of five years in prison. 

Photo: Facebook


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