A FEMALE Russian "spy" has been charged with infiltrating US political groups on the orders of a senior Kremlin official, it has emerged.

Maria Butina, 29, a pro-gun activist affiliated with the National Rifle Association (NRA), was arrested yesterday on a charge of conspiracy to act as an unregistered agent of the Russian government.

6 Russian pro-gun activist Maria Butina has been charged with spying on US political organisations Credit: Facebook

She is accused of "developing ties with American citizens and infiltrating political groups” including the NRA – while back channelling information to Moscow.

Court papers say the Washington-based agent worked on behalf of an unnamed Kremlin official to influence senior US politicians between 2015 and 2017.

The announcement of her arrest came just hours after US President Donald Trump met with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Following the leaders' meeting in Helsinki, Trump hailed 'direct, open and deeply productive talks' with the Russian President and insisted Moscow had not interfered with the 2016 US election.

6 The 29-year-old, who has attended NRA-sponsored events, was arrested on Sunday Credit: Facebook

6 Butina is accused of being 'a Russian government agent while developing ties with US citizens and infiltrating political groups' Credit: Facebook

6 In photographs posted on Facebook, the alleged spy is seen holding large guns Credit: Facebook

Butina is a student at American University in Washington DC, and a founder of the pro-gun rights Russian advocacy organisation Right to Bear Arms.

She attended events sponsored by special interest groups including two National Prayer Breakfast events, according to the court documents.

The 29-year-old also organised Russian-American "friendship and dialogue" dinners in Washington with the goal of "reporting back to Moscow" what she had learned.

Prosecutors say the senior Russian official - who worked for the Russian Central Bank - has since been sanctioned by the US.

6 In one snap, she is shown holding what appear to be grenades Credit: Facebook

6 The alleged government agent is a student at American University in Washington DC Credit: Facebook

The court records do not name the official.

However, Butina is pictured on her Facebook page with Alexander Torshin, the deputy head of Russia's Central Bank.

Torshin was sanctioned by the US Treasury Department in April.

Other snaps show the flame-haired activist posing with massive machine guns and rifles.

Butina hosted several leading NRA executives and pro-gun conservatives at her group's annual meeting in 2015, reports The New York Times.

In recent years, she has been involved in coordinating between US gun rights activists and their Russian counterparts, according to reports.

Butina is was due in court on Wednesday.

MOST READ IN NEWS HAPPY MEAL McDonald’s worker pays customer’s bill after he calls mum to ask for her order STORE TOT SNATCH Family's horror as 'kidnap gang try to rip girl, 1, from pram' in TK Maxx Exclusive PIERS PRESSURE Couple wiped out village's internet for 18 MONTHS to watch Piers on £30 TV Exclusive HAPPY MEAL McDonald’s worker who paid for lad’s meal has secretly bought food for MONTHS NEVER FORGET PM & celebs backs The Sun's campaign to save the Poppy Appeal from coronavirus DOMINANT STRAIN New Covid mutation is 'more contagious & could adapt to get round masks'

Photos on her Facebook page show she has attended NRA-sponsored events.

A Justice Department statement said Butina had been “developing relationships with US persons and infiltrating organisations having influence in American politics, for the purpose of advancing the interests of the Russian federation.”

She was also detained just days after special counsel Robert Mueller charged 12 Russian intelligence officials with directing a hacking effort aimed at swaying the 2016 election.

Butina's charge was brought the US Attorney for the District of Columbia and do not appear to stem from the ongoing Mueller investigation.

Moment Donald Trump WINKS at Putin during high stakes summit

We pay for your stories! Do you have a story for The Sun Online news team? Email us at tips@the-sun.co.uk or call 0207 782 4368 . We pay for videos too. Click here to upload yours