Putin: Butina's Sentence Is Ridiculous & Shows American 'Lawlessness'

'To make sure that did not look totally absurd, they sentenced her to 18 months to show that she was guilty of something.'

RI: Russian president Vladimir Putin: The Foreign Ministry has already given a comment on Maria Butina’s 18-month sentence. I think the Ministry has made it clear that this is total lawlessness. That is what it is. I think this is a case of keeping up appearances or struggling to save face. There was nothing to indict her for.

Transcript:

Could you comment on Maria Butina’s 18-month sentence? Thank you very much.
The Foreign Ministry has already given a comment on Maria Butina’s 18-month sentence.
I think the Ministry has made it clear that this is total lawlessness. That is what it is.
It is unclear why she was convicted or what crime she had committed.
I think this is a case of keeping up appearances or struggling to save face.
The girl was seized, detained, put behind bars, while there were no charges to be made against her.
There was nothing to indict her for.
However, to make sure that did not look totally absurd, they sentenced her to 18 months to show that she was guilty of something.

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