Accused of espionage Rossiyanka Maria Butina tried in 2015 to infiltrate the highest echelons of the US government, said several sources Reuters.
According to insiders familiar with the reports and analytical center in Washington, meeting Butynol and the Secretary of state of the Central Bank of Russia Alexander Torshin was held at a higher level than originally anticipated. (By the way, the official close to Russian President Vladimir Putin and accompanied him at various events in Washington as a translator.)
The Alleged spy Maria Butina told a Senate panel about her financial backing from a Russian billionaire https://t.co/z3kQBmFFkU pic.twitter.com/qdK4gk5Prj
— CNN Politics (@CNNPolitics) November 23, 2018
In April 2015, when the US President was Barack Obama, Butina and Torshin met separately with the Vice Chairman of the Federal reserve system Stanley Fischer and Deputy Minister of Finance for international Affairs Nathan Sitcom.
Meetings with two senior us officials was organized in Washington by the Center for the national interest (Center for the National Interest), whose goal is to contribute to improving relations between the US and Russia. In December of 2016 Executive Director, Paul Saunders called on the newly elected President of Donald trump to ease tensions in relations with the Kremlin.
Fisher confirmed to Reuters information about meeting Torshin and his interpreter, but said he did not remember, was present there Butina. According to former Deputy head of the Federal reserve, in conversation with the Russian representative discussed «the state of the Russian economy» and his role as Deputy head of the Central Bank.
According to the Department of public relations of the Central Bank of Russia, Torshin to comment on this topic refused.
Last week the court decided to leave 29-year-old Butino in prison until the trial is completed. Prosecutors argued that she maintains ties with the Russian intelligence and may flee the country. Russian woman have pleaded not guilty to spying for his country.
On Saturday, July 21, Minister of foreign Affairs of Russia Sergey Lavrov said US Secretary of state Mike Pompeothat Butina was arrested on «trumped up charges» and must be released.
Previously the US attorney’s office said that the alleged spy has offered their sexual services in exchange for a position in an American organization that was beneficial to its interests.
