World | Vladimir Putin Putin: 'It's an Outrage' Russian leader speaks out against Maria Butina's prison sentence By Neal Colgrass Posted Apr 27, 2019 3:05 PM CDT Copied Russian President Vladimir Putin speaks during the Belt and Road Forum in Beijing, China, Saturday, April 27, 2019. (Alexei Nikolsky, Sputnik, Kremlin Pool Photo via AP) One person isn't too thrilled with a Russian operative's prison sentence: Vladimir Putin. "It's an outrage," he said Saturday of Maria Butina's 18-month sentence, per the Guardian. "It's not clear what she was convicted of or what crime she committed. I think it's a prime example of 'saving face.' They arrested her and put the girl in jail." Russia's leader said US authorities had "nothing on her" and "fixed her up," but Butina did plead guilty in December to conspiracy and acting as a foreign agent. Prosecutors say she broke US espionage laws by infiltrating the NRA and other organizations, per CBS News. Putin echoed his Foreign Ministry's opinion that Butina's punishment was "lawlessness," per NBC News. Read These Next Arizona governor wants answers on Grand Canyon fire. Democrats happily pile on over the Epstein fallout. They played husband and wife on TV, are now married. Jamie Dimon has a warning for the White House. Report an error