Lavrov tells Pompeo: free Russian woman accused in U.S. of espionage

U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo holds a press briefing at U.N. headquarters in New York City, New York, U.S., July 20, 2018. REUTERS/Brendan McDermid

Thomson Reuters

MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russia's foreign minister told his U.S. counterpart on Saturday that a woman arrested in the United States on accusations she was a Russian agent had been detained on "fabricated charges" and should be released.

Sergei Lavrov made the comments about Maria Butina in a phone call to U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo that was aimed at improving bilateral relations, the Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

The two men also discussed improving the humanitarian situation in Syria.

(Reporting by Vladimir Soldatkin; Editing by Edmund Blair)

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