Russia: OK, Release Our Accused Spy

The week of Russia whiplash continues, with Moscow now demanding the release of a Russian woman accused of being a covert spy, reports the New York Times. Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov made the request Saturday during a phone call to counterpart Mike Pompeo in which he "stressed that the actions of the US authorities that arrested Russian citizen [Maria] Butina on fabricated charges are unacceptable," per a Russian statement picked up by RT. Lavrov further called for her "immediate release," though the Times calls that possibility "unlikely." Russia is also mounting a social media campaign to draw awareness to Butina's plight, using #FreeMariaButina. (More Maria Butina stories.)