Russian National Butina Requests US Court To Dismiss Indictment Or Some Counts - Filing

WASHINGTON (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 16th November, 2018) Russian citizen Maria Butina has requested that the US court dismiss her indictment or compel election between multiplicitous counts, according to a motion submitted by Butina's lawyers.

"Pursuant to Fed. R. Crim. P. 12, Defendant Maria Butina hereby moves the court to dismiss the indictment (or one of the counts thereof), or to compel election between the multiplicitous counts," the filing said on Thursday. "As further grounds for this motion, for which a hearing is requested, counsel directs the court to the memorandum in support filed herewith. For the foregoing reasons, Defendant Maria Butina respectfully requests that the court grant this motion."

In particular, the motion said the charges against Butina violated the principle of free speech and the indictment is "flawed as multiplicitous."

"The government does not allege that the Russian Federation employed her as an intelligence officer or foreign agent in any traditional sense," the motion said. "Instead, the government contends Maria is a Kremlin agent because she shared her memorable American happenings and naïve, youthful optimism for better Russian-American relations with others, including an individual claimed to be 'Russian Official,' who did not employ her, pay her, request her to pursue better relations between the two countries, or exert any control over her daily activities."

The document added that if fantasizing about a future career in diplomacy and talking about personal events and peace-building aspirations with others - whether or not a foreign government official is then acting in an official capacity - makes one a foreign agent "then scores of people are unknowingly violating this statute.

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The lawyers emphasized that Section 951 of the US Code under which Butina is indicted is unlimited in its reach, while the First Amendment of the US Constitution protects the expression of views and opinions regardless of how unpopular or controversial they may be.

The US authorities arrested Butina - a recent student and a political activist - in June on suspicions of acting as an agent for a foreign government.

Butina has denied the accusations, but faces up to 15 years in jail if convicted.

Russia will continue to closely follow the situation with Russian citizen Maria Butina and provide her with the necessary assistance, Russian Foreign Ministry's spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said on Thursday.

The spokeswoman pointed out that Moscow would continue to make efforts aimed at Butina's release from the jail adding that the work of the Russian Embassy had already improved the prison conditions, who has now an opportunity to attend rehabilitation exercises, meet visitors and make phone calls to speak with her relatives.

Russia has strongly criticized the US government for detaining Butina, and has characterized the charges against her as "clearly groundless." The Russian Foreign Ministry has called Butina's ongoing detention unacceptable.