Maria Butina, a Russian citizen arrested and convicted by espionage, returned to Moscow on October 26 after being released the day before.

"I did not give up because I knew I did not have that right. The Russians never surrendered! I am very happy to be at home. I am very grateful to the people who supported me, the Russians who helped and wrote. letter to me, "said Maria Butina upon arriving at Sheremetyevo airport, Moscow today.

Butina was arrested by the FBI in July 2018 on charges of espionage, then detained at Tallahassee Prison, Florida. She admitted the allegations were illegal foreign agents in December 2018 and sentenced to 18 months in prison. US authorities confirmed Butina served half of her sentence at the time of her conviction and released her on October 25.

"I am very thankful to the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the staff who fought with me day and night. The news I watched while in prison in the USA painted the ugliest image of myself. They even did it. some TV shows. It's been a difficult time, "Butina said.

Butina, 30, is accused of using ties with the National Rifle Association of America (NRA) to build a high-level liaison network with Republican members. Butina often attends NRA political rallies and conferences with Alexander Torshin, a politician close to Russian President Vladimir Putin.

The U.S. believes that Butina uses these activities to reach US President Donald Trump, who was a Republican candidate in the 2016 election. Butina also met Trump's son Donald Trump Jr. at a party at the 2016 NRA annual conference.

Butina is the only Russian citizen arrested and convicted in a three-year investigation of a possible Russian presidential election election in 2016. Russia declared the case against Butina to be politically motivated. forced is "organized and completely fabricated".

The expression "Russia never surrenders" or "Russians do not surrender" is thought to have come after the defense of Russia's Osowiec fort on August 6, 1915 before the German army. German soldiers used chemical weapons to attack, but 60 Russian soldiers were seriously wounded under the command of 2nd Lieutenant Vladimir Kotlinsky, who counterattacked and repelled the enemy.