American-Russian Citizen Faces 12 Years Jail Time In Russia For Aiding Ukraine Through Charity Donations

In a recent development, a Russian-American citizen, Ksenia Karelina, has been sentenced to 12 years in prison by a Russian court on charges of treason. Karelina, a Los Angeles resident, was found guilty of donating funds to a charity supporting Ukraine.

What Happened: Karelina was convicted for transferring funds to a Ukrainian organization in February 2022, on the day Russia invaded Ukraine. The funds were allegedly used for the purchase of tactical medicine items, equipment, and ammunition by the Ukrainian Armed Forces, Reuters reported on Thursday.

Supporters of Karelina argue that she donated $51.80 to Razom for Ukraine, a New York-based charity that provides humanitarian aid to children and elderly people in Ukraine. The charity denies providing any military support to Kyiv.

Karelina, who was born in Russia and emigrated to the United States in 2012, was arrested by the FSB security service after flying to Russia to visit her family in Yekaterinburg earlier this year.

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Her lawyer, Mikhail Mushailov, has expressed hope that she might be included in a future prisoner exchange between Russia and the West.

Why It Matters: This development comes in the wake of a recent prisoner exchange between Russia and the U.S. where Russia released Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich and former U.S. Marine Paul Whelan, who were imprisoned on espionage charges.

The exchange was celebrated as a ‘huge win’ by Team USA center and WNBA star, Brittney Griner, who herself was freed from Russian detention in a similar swap earlier this year.

The case of Karelina adds to the growing list of individuals caught in the crossfire of geopolitical tensions, raising concerns over the safety and rights of dual citizens traveling in volatile regions.

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This story was generated using Benzinga Neuro and edited by Pooja Rajkumari