Russia slams 'invented' claims against agent jailed in US

Moscow on Friday denounced the jailing of Russian agent Maria Butina in the United States, saying the accusations against her were "totally invented" and the conviction is a "shameful stain" on the US judicial system.

Earlier in the day Butina pleaded guilty in a Washington court to one count of conspiracy to act as an agent of a foreign government without registering.

"The accusations brought against her, intended to influence the internal political process in the United States, are totally invented and fabricated," Russia's foreign ministry said in a statement.