Şevval Tufan
Russian security forces apprehended a 33-year-old dual citizen of Russia and the United States, residing in Los Angeles, for purportedly aiding Ukraine, the country’s main security agency announced. The detainee is accused of raising funds for a Ukrainian organization involved in procuring weaponry and supplies for the Ukrainian military.
The detainee, arrested in Yekaterinburg, central Russia, faces accusations of treason for allegedly contributing just over $50 to Razom for Ukraine, a nonprofit based in New York that provides assistance to Ukraine.
The Federal Security Service (F.S.B.) disclosed the arrest, highlighting the severity of the charge which carries a potential sentence of up to 20 years in prison. A video released by RIA Novosti depicted the woman, wearing a white hat concealing her eyes, being handcuffed and escorted by masked security officers.
The detention of American citizens on Russian soil has raised concerns, with speculation that they may be perceived as bargaining chips for high-profile Russians held in the West. Concurrently, a Moscow court rejected an appeal from Evan Gershkovich, an American journalist for The Wall Street Journal, arrested on espionage charges last spring, extending his pretrial detention until at least the end of March.
The increase in state treason cases in Russia, particularly following the invasion of Ukraine, is notable. Last year alone, around 50 individuals faced accusations, encompassing various profiles from Kremlin critics to ordinary citizens.
The woman, identified as Ksenia Karelina or Ksenia (Karelina) Khavana, reportedly obtained U.S. citizenship in 2021 and is a former student of the University of Maryland in Baltimore, having graduated from Urals Federal University in Yekaterinburg in 2014.
Arrested at the end of January and charged with treason on February 7, the woman’s case is scheduled for an appeal in a Yekaterinburg court.
Source: New York Times
