Russian Rights Council Head Says Mistreatment Of Butina In US Constitutes Gross Violation

MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 19th August, 2018) Maltreatment of Russian citizen Maria Butina in US jail constitutes a blatant violation of basic human rights and it is necessary to put in a great deal of effort to change the situation, Mikhail Fedotov, the chairman of the Russian Presidential Council for Civil Society and Human Rights, told Sputnik on Sunday.

Butina was arrested in Washington, DC in mid-July on suspicion of acting as an agent for the foreign government. She has denied the accusations. On Friday, the Russian national was transferred to a prison in the US city of Alexandria, Virginia. She faces up to 15 years in jail.

"Such a treatment is a gross violation of human rights, every effort should be made to ensure that the conditions of detention are normal. Such bullying cannot be tolerated, " Fedotov said.

The Council has already appealed to the US Commission on Civil Rights over the case of Butina.

"But, unfortunately, we have not received any response so far. We hope that this commission will check the conditions of the Russian citizen's detention and take all measures possible to guarantee that these rights are respected," Fedotov underlined.

Butina, 29, is a student from Russia, who has recently graduated from American University in Washington DC with a Masters Degree in International Relations.

On Saturday, Russian diplomats visited Butina in jail in Alexandria. According to the embassy, the detained was transported to the new jail suddenly, handcuffed and without any personal belongings, including towels and hygiene means. The Russian embassy vowed to send a note of protest to the US Department of State over the inhumane treatment of Butina.