Russian citizen Maria
Butina, 29, was arrested in Washington DC on July 15
MOSCOW, August 20.
/TASS/. Russian ombudsperson Tatiana Moskalkova stated that treatment of
Russian citizen Maria Butina, arrested in the US, is "inhumane and
degrading", the ombudsperson’s website informed on Monday.
"I would like to
express my utmost concern at the actions of US prison authorities during the
transfer of Russian citizen Maria Butina from Washington to Alexandria
(Virginia State) prison. <…> There are clear signs of cruel, inhumane and
degrading treatment, punishment by the US government and violation of the rules
of international law," the message states.
According to
Moskalkova, Maria Butina "was subjected to a degrading inspection, made to
undress, transferred in chains without warning or explanation, placed into
quarantine, where she spent 12 hours with no food or light, and now she is in
solitary confinement." Moreover, the authorities confiscated Butina’s
personal belongings, books and personal hygiene products.
"In this regard,
I ask the global human rights community to evaluate the treatment of convicts
in the USA and urge the US government to humanize the conditions of imprisonment
for Russian citizen Maria Butina," Moskalkova stated.
Butina case
Russian citizen Maria
Butina, 29, was arrested in Washington DC on July 15.
According to the US
Department of Justice, she is suspected of acting "as an agent of Russia
inside the United States 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." The next
court hearing in Butina’s case is scheduled for September 10.
Russian Foreign
Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said that Moscow considered Washington’s
charges against Butina to be groundless and politically motivated. According to
her, Russia has been doing everything possible to protect the woman’s
legitimate rights and interests.
Source: ITAR-TASS
21-08-2018
