Ksenia Karelina, a 32-year-old US-Russian citizen, was sentenced to 12 years in jail by a Russian courtroom on Thursday for allegedly donating simply over $50 to a pro-Ukraine charity. Karelina, who works as a ballet dancer and spa employee in Los Angeles, was visiting household in Yekaterinburg when she was detained by police in late January.
The Sverdlovsk Regional Courtroom discovered Karelina responsible of excessive treason and sentenced her to imprisonment in a normal regime colony.Through the verdict studying, Karelina stood in a glass defendant’s cage, wearing a white prime and denims, as proven in a video posted by the courtroom.
In accordance with US media studies, Karelina donated $51.80 to “Razom for Ukraine,” a New York-based charity, shortly after Russia launched its full-scale navy offensive in February 2022. The FSB safety service in Russia accused her of gathering cash that was “used to buy tactical medical provides, gear, weapons and ammunition for the Ukrainian armed forces.” Karelina pleaded responsible to the fees at a listening to final week, as reported by state media.
The US has criticized Russia for arresting its residents on baseless expenses to make use of them as bargaining chips in securing the discharge of Russians convicted overseas. Karelina’s sentencing comes simply over two weeks after Russia’s largest prisoner swap with the West for the reason that Chilly Struggle, which included the discharge of US reporter Evan Gershkovich, former US marine Paul Whelan, and 14 others.
Karelina’s employer, Ciel Spa on the SLS Resort in Beverly Hills, acknowledged on Fb in February that she had been “wrongly accused,” and her companion has publicly petitioned for her launch. In accordance with a Russian rights group, Karelina was initially detained on January 27 whereas visiting household in Yekaterinburg, virtually a month after arriving in Russia. Russian regional information company URA.RU reported that the preliminary cost was associated to “swearing in a public place,” which Karelina rejected in courtroom, based on Mediazona information outlet.
FSB officers could have found she made the cost to the pro-Ukraine charity on her cellphone, however it was not clear how, based on Russian media retailers. Karelina was initially held for 14 days after being detained for “petty hooliganism” however was by no means launched, as authorities charged her with “treason” whereas she was in custody. Russia is understood to arrest foreigners on minor expenses earlier than accusing them of extra severe offenses like treason or espionage.
The Sverdlovsk Regional Courtroom discovered Karelina responsible of excessive treason and sentenced her to imprisonment in a normal regime colony.Through the verdict studying, Karelina stood in a glass defendant’s cage, wearing a white prime and denims, as proven in a video posted by the courtroom.
In accordance with US media studies, Karelina donated $51.80 to “Razom for Ukraine,” a New York-based charity, shortly after Russia launched its full-scale navy offensive in February 2022. The FSB safety service in Russia accused her of gathering cash that was “used to buy tactical medical provides, gear, weapons and ammunition for the Ukrainian armed forces.” Karelina pleaded responsible to the fees at a listening to final week, as reported by state media.
The US has criticized Russia for arresting its residents on baseless expenses to make use of them as bargaining chips in securing the discharge of Russians convicted overseas. Karelina’s sentencing comes simply over two weeks after Russia’s largest prisoner swap with the West for the reason that Chilly Struggle, which included the discharge of US reporter Evan Gershkovich, former US marine Paul Whelan, and 14 others.
Karelina’s employer, Ciel Spa on the SLS Resort in Beverly Hills, acknowledged on Fb in February that she had been “wrongly accused,” and her companion has publicly petitioned for her launch. In accordance with a Russian rights group, Karelina was initially detained on January 27 whereas visiting household in Yekaterinburg, virtually a month after arriving in Russia. Russian regional information company URA.RU reported that the preliminary cost was associated to “swearing in a public place,” which Karelina rejected in courtroom, based on Mediazona information outlet.
FSB officers could have found she made the cost to the pro-Ukraine charity on her cellphone, however it was not clear how, based on Russian media retailers. Karelina was initially held for 14 days after being detained for “petty hooliganism” however was by no means launched, as authorities charged her with “treason” whereas she was in custody. Russia is understood to arrest foreigners on minor expenses earlier than accusing them of extra severe offenses like treason or espionage.
