The United States accused the head of the council of compatriots of illegal work as a foreign agent

An FBI agent in New York. File photoWASHINGTON, Mar 9 Charge of illegal work as a foreign agent has been brought in the United States against the chairman of the Coordinating Council of Russian Compatriots, Elena Branson, the US Department of Justice reports on its website. On six counts, she faces up to 35 years in prison.

"Branson was charged with conspiracy to work as an agent of a foreign government without notifying the Attorney General, the maximum penalty for this could be up to 5 years in prison", — The report says.

In addition, she faces 10 years on charges of working as a foreign agent without proper notice, five more on charges of conspiracy to evade registration, five on charges of willfully refusing to register, five on conspiracy to commit visa fraud, and five years on charges of perjury, the report said. As a result, she faces up to 35 years in prison on six counts. Russian lawyer Danchenko asked to postpone the beginning of the trial in the United States