Accused Russian Agent Maria Butina Moved To Alexandria Jail

ALEXANDRIA, VA—Maria Butina, a gun rights advocate charged with acting as an agent for Russia in the U.S., was moved to the Alexandria jail from DC Friday. Officials did not comment on what spurred the transfer, but the Russian government had criticized the conditions in the DC jail.

A a spokesperson for the U.S. Marshals Service told The Washington Post, "As a matter of policy, we do not disclose information related to individual prisoners to protect their privacy, safety and security." Butina’s lawyer was unaware of a reason for the transfer.

Ahead of her transfer, Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson Maria Zakharova said via Twitter Butina's health deteriorated since being jailed but diplomats have managed to get an improvement of the conditions, including use of the phone. "It seems as if Washington is trying to force her to cooperate with the investigation by making her living conditions as difficult as possible," reads the statement.

Butina, 29, was charged in July with conspiracy to act and failing to register as an agent of a foreign government. She came to the U.S. in 2016 on a student visa after as a special assistant to a high-level Russian government official, according to an affidavit.

The Justice Department's national security division and the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Columbia is pursuing Butina's case. Federal prosecutors claim she continued working with the Russian official to establish a "back channel" of communications with U.S. politicians through organizations including the National Rifle Association, to advance Russian interests.

Butina pleaded not guilty in DC federal court, with her lawyer saying she was simply networking with Americans, according to The Post. She will appear in court next on Sept. 10.

Image via Alexandria Sheriff's Office