Maria Butina — the Russian secret agent convicted of gathering intelligence on the National Rifle Association and other US groups — has been begging for cash on social media to help pay for her legal costs.

The gun rights activist posted a video on Instagram Saturday, explaining how the money would be used to help fund an appeal. Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova has reportedly said that the Russian government would not pay for her legal costs.

“We aren’t financing a lawyer, but we are doing everything so that [Butina] will be afforded all rights as a Russian citizen,” Zakharova said Sunday on state TV.

Butina pleaded guilty last year to one count of conspiracy to act as an agent of a foreign government without registering. She received an 18-month prison sentence and is expected to be deported once it’s completed.

With Post wires

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