Russia’s foreign interference

Shortly before the summit in Helsinki the Russian citizen Maria Butina was arrested in the United States.
The investigation determined that, from as early as 2015, Butina worked at the direction of a high-level Russian official 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“. She has been indicted by a federal grand jury on two charges: engaging in conspiracy against the US and acting as an unregistered foreign agent of the Russian government.
The Russian Foreign Intelligence Service (SVR), with which Butina is suspected to be linked, refrained from commenting on the arrest. The Russian MFA, however, is actively involved on the case, also launching a “#FreeMariaButina” campaign in social networks.
Unlike in the case of Butina, there was hardly any official reaction to the indictment of the 12 officers of Russia’s Main Intelligence Directorate of the General Staff -GRU (save from allegations that their indictment aimed at undermining the Helsinki summit).

Putin himself in Helsinki claimed that he “does not know about it yet” and has to find out what the US side is talking about.

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