Twitter direct messages regarding logistics for the 2016 National Prayer Breakfast. The RUSSIAN OFFICIAL noted that the MFA had given approval for his attendance.
26. On February 4, 2016, both BUTINA and the RUSSIAN OFFICIAL attended the 2016 National Prayer Breakfast in the District of Columbia.
27. A series of email communications (also known as "email strings") spanning March 10 and 11, 2016 and involving BUTINA, U.S. Person 1, and U.S. Person 2 reveal BUTINA's efforts to arrange the "friendship and dialogue" dinners in the District of Columbia and New York City near the end of May 2016. U.S. Person 1 provided a list to BUTINA of American individuals and noted that this list would serve as "a good start for Maria's first briefing for [the RUSSIAN OFFICIAL's] Friday morning in Moscow." BUTINA expressed her gratitude to U.S. Person 1 and noted that she had received the list before her meeting with the RUSSIAN OFFICIAL, and "that [w]e confirm the Dates! [the RUSSIAN OFFICIAL] is working on the best third person from the Russian side now." Additionally, BUTINA told U.S. Person 2 that the RUSSIAN OFFICIAL had expressed to her that he was "very much impressed by you and expresses his great appreciation for what you are doing to restore relations between the two countries. He also wants you to know that Russians will support the efforts from our side. That is all I can tell you for now. More information next week!"
28. On March 14, 2016, BUTINA emailed U.S. Person 2 and said that the RUSSIAN OFFICIAL confirmed to her "his desire in our Russian-American project," and that a representative of the Russian Presidential administration had expressed approval "for building this communication channel." BUTINA additionally assured U.S. Person 2 that he should not worry as "all that we needed is <<yes>> from Putin's side. The rest is easier."
29. On March 30, 2016, BUTINA sent an email thanking an associate of the organizer
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