Russian Fund For Protection Of National Values Says Ready To Cover Butina's Attorney Fees

MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 20th May, 2019) The Russian Fund for Protection of National Values is ready to cover attorney fees for Russian national Maria Butina, who has filed an appeal with a US Federal court over her 18-month sentence, the fund's head, Alexander Malkevich, said in a statement.

"The Fund for Protection of National Values will cover legal fees related to the appeal filed by Russian national Maria Butina on May 15 against the April 26 verdict of a US court," the statement, obtained by Sputnik, said on Sunday.

According to the statement, the fund is currently holding negotiations with Russian NGO Anti-Globalist Movement to transfer the necessary funds to pay for legal services and further efforts to ensure Butina's rights are observed.

"Since the detention of the Russian national in July 2018, the US authorities have been applying inhumane measures toward her and violating her rights to obtain the necessary information and use it in political interests. Maria Butina has since been kept in inhumane conditions and is waiting for her transfer to a federal prison, where she will serve her sentence until November 5.

The Fund for Protection of National Values will do its best to provide the necessary assistance to the compatriot and restore her rights in accordance with international standards," the fund added.

In an interview with Sputnik, Malkevich confirmed the fund's intentions.

"The fund is ready to pay attorney fees," he said.

On April 26, a US federal judge sentenced Butina to a year and a half in prison after she pleaded guilty to a single count of conspiring to act as an unregistered foreign agent. Butina, who signed her plea deal after being held for long periods in isolation in prison, had requested a sentence of time served.

The Russian Foreign Ministry has called Butina's sentence a disgrace to the US judicial system and has accused the US court of carrying out a clear political order. Russian President Vladimir Putin, in turn, has said Butina's indictment is unjustified because she was not tasked to perform any mission on behalf of the Russian government.