Washington arrests Russian agent on Presidential Meeting Day

Periskopi

16 July 2018, 22:53(8 years ago)

A Washington-based pro-Armenian activist who was linked to the National Power Association (NRA) has been arrested on charges of spying on Russia. Maria Butina was charged with plotting, acting as Russian Federation agent within the US, without prior notice of her attorney general. Busina, 29, was arrested [...]

Maria Butina was charged with plotting, acting as Russian Federation agent within the US, without prior notice of her attorney general.

Busina, 29, was arrested Sunday and today appeared before a court in Washington, the US Department of Justice announced.

It is known as guardian of Alexandr Torshin, former Russian state banker who met with Donald Trump Jr for dinner at the NRA congress in 2016. Torshin was imposed under sanctions from the US in April of this year.

A U.S. Department of Justice press release reportedly Busina had “developed relations with American persons and undercover organisations that had influence on American politics, with the aim of advancing Russian Federation's interests”.

The announcement of the arrest and appearance before the Russian agent's court takes place on the day the two presidents, Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin, when other topics were discussed by Russian agents operating in the US, the influence of Russian intelligence during US elections and the FBI's evolution on these issues.