MOSCOW, August 21 (RAPSI) – Russia’s ombudsman Tatiana Moskalkova told journalists on Tuesday that she had handed petitions concerning Maria Butina’s detention in the U.S. to the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, the Council of Europe Secretary General and OSCE.

According to Moskalkova, Butina, who is accused by American authorities of illegal activity as a foreign agent, must be released from detention. The ombudsman’s motion for the Russian national’s release has been submitted to the U.S. ambassador to Russia Jon Huntsman.

Moskalkova called detention conditions of Butina inhuman. According to the Russian ombudsman, the woman was placed in a separate cell and she is often in handcuffs. Moreover, Butina was repeatedly subject to a strip search.

The human rights commissioner believes that the detained woman can give any evidence and even incriminate herself in such a situation.

Butina was arrested in the United States on suspicion of espionage in July. The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) claims that the woman was fronting for Russia and forged friendly relationships with American officials. She was placed in detention.