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 A 24-year-old Dallas Cowboys player has died. Teacher shot by 6-year-old wins court case. Border Patrol agents arrest US citizen, drive off with his kid. Dashcam video shows LAPD officer fatally striking a skateboarder. Report an error