THE ACTIVITIES ON BEHALF OF RUSSIA
13. As detailed below, the investigation has revealed that BUT INA, the defendant,
was working in the United States at the direction of the RUSSIAN OFFICIAL.
14. The investigation has further revealed that BUTINA and the RUSSIAN .
OFFICIAL took steps to develop relationships with American politicians in order to establish
private, or as she called them, "back channel" lines of communication. These lines could be used
by the Russian Federation to penetrate the US. national decision-making apparatus to advance the
agenda of the Russian Federation.
15. The investigation has also revealed that BUTINA and the RUSSIAN
OFFICIAL planned to advance Moscow's long-term strategic objectives in the United States, in
part, by establishing relationships with American political organizations, including the GUN
RIGHTS ORGANIZATION. Based on my training, experience and familiarity with this
investigation, I believe that BUTINA and the RUSSIAN OFFICIAL took these steps in order to
infiltrate those groups and advance the interests of the Russian Federation.
16. The Russian infkluence operation included, among other things, taskings from the
RUSSIAN OFFICIAL to (ii) meetings between BUTINA and US. politicians and
political candidates; attendance at events sponsored by special interest groups,
also attended by politicians and political candidates; and (iv) reporting back to
Moscow through the RUSSIAN OFFICIAL the results of the various encounters with the US.
politicians and political candidates.
