Russian Maria Butina sentenced by US court to 18 months for being agent for Kremlin
Maria Butina, the only Russian arrested and convicted in the three year investigation of Moscow's interference in US politics, was sentenced to 18 months in prison in Washington on Friday. The leader of a small Russian gun rights group, Butina used her ties to the NRA firearms lobby to build a network of powerful Republican contacts. She had admitted one count of conspiracy to act as an agent of a foreign government without registering.
- World
- AP
- Published Date: 07:25 | 26 April 2019
- Modified Date: 07:27 | 26 April 2019
A Russian woman who admitted to being a secret agent for the Kremlin has been sentenced to 18 months in prison.
Maria Butina has been jailed since her July 2018 arrest and will get credit for time served. U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan also ordered Butina deported after she completes her sentence.
Chutkan said she was imposing the sentence to reflect the seriousness of the offense and to promote deterrence.
Butina pleaded guilty last year to a conspiracy charge and admitted she covertly gathered intelligence on the National Rifle Association and other groups at the direction of a former Russian lawmaker.
Butina said she was "ashamed and embarrassed" by her own actions.
- Turkey, Pakistan, Uzbekistan finish military drill
- UK opposition leader Corbyn says won't attend Trump state dinner
- 'Turkey can bring peace east of Euphrates in Syria'
- Russia asks US to stop 'blackmail' after new Venezuela sanctions
- Canadian capital Ottawa declares state of emergency as waters swell