Deal with the investigation, conditions of detention and plans for the future: Maria Butina answered questions from Russian journalists

For the first time since her arrest, Russian Maria Butina, convicted in the United States, was able to talk with journalists and talk about the conditions of the deal with the investigation. Butina answered media questions by phone from prison.

“I had nothing to hide from them, I don’t intend to deceive anyone,” said Buta. - The only condition for my deal was to tell the truth. I provided all the documents, I explained that I did not have any secrets. However, the actions that I committed - for this I needed to register as a foreign agent, despite the fact that there is nothing illegal in them. I did not register. Despite the fact that the notes to Torshin (ex-senator Alexander Torshin . - RT ) were written on my initiative, I had to notify the American Attorney General about my actions. I violated the law on foreign agents and admitted it. My crime is legal activity without registration. ”

Butina explained that if she had not made a deal with the investigation, she could have been in prison for 15 years.

“If it were not for the deal, they could give me five years, and if there was a jury trial, and I would have lost it, then 15. I would like to stop all speculation on this topic. The only condition for the deal was to tell the truth. And the US prosecutor’s office did not have any complaints against me. ”

At the same time, the Russian woman notes that her actions did not cause any damage to US national security.

“There are no injured parties, there is no money in the case,” she says. “Nevertheless, they gave me the same punishment as the person who sold secret information to China.” This is a terrible disgrace to American justice. I think this is a complete absurdity. At the same time, I do not think that such a strict punishment is connected with the distrust of the US authorities to me. The focus was not on Russia, but on the laws of the United States. "

In conclusion, according to her, the Russian woman is supported by the family, the staff of the Russian embassy and the confessor Victor. At the same time her family failed to contact Torshin.

“Parents tried to contact him, but he didn’t make contact,” she explains. - I have questions for him. Perhaps I do not know the whole situation and the picture. I think we need to personally talk. As he was a dear person to me, he still remains. ”

Speaking about the conditions of detention, Butina clarified that torture was not applied to her, but she was kept in isolation for a long time.

“Now I am in general mode. This means that I have access to the phone. For the most part we are in the common room of our department. I can communicate with the rest of the prisoners without any problems. Torture was not applied to me, but I was really kept in isolation for a long time, ”she explained.

One and a half years of imprisonment, Butina plans to conduct training, reading classical Russian and religious literature, as well as teaching work. With teaching, she also connects her future after her release.

“There are things when you are in general mode, quite interesting. I like Shurik: he wrote toasts, and I write down the recipes. As girls know how to cook from limited ingredients all kinds of (dishes. - RT ) from cakes to pasta, you can not even imagine. I help them cook, write down some recipes, maybe someday I will publish them, ”said Butina.

At the same time, the Russian family will have to find about 40 million rubles to pay debts for the work of lawyers.

“I really need financial support. Now every ruble is valuable to me and my family. I believe that Russians have a good heart, and I ask them to support their compatriot in a difficult situation, ”Butina says.

Recall, the Russian woman was detained in July 2018 on suspicion of "working for Russia as an agent." In December 2018, Butina agreed to a deal with the investigation. On April 26, 2019, in Washington, the court sentenced Butin to 18 months in prison for "conspiring to work illegally for the government of the Russian Federation."

After release, Boutin should be deported to Russia.

Commenting on the situation around the arrest of Russians, Russian President Vladimir Putin said that there was no reason to imprison her. According to Putin, she has nothing to confess, since she did not fulfill the tasks of the Russian government agencies in the United States.

State Duma deputies proposed to create a “Butina’s List” in Russia. The corresponding proposal was sent by parliamentarians to the Minister of Foreign Affairs Sergey Lavrov. The list may include US officials who violate the rights and freedoms of Russian citizens. According to the authors of the initiative, this will protect the Russians and "sober up foreign officials accustomed to the practically unpunished oppression of the Russians."