Russian Court Sentences US-Russian Ksenia Karelina to 12 Years for Donating to Ukrainian Charity

A Russian court has sentenced US-Russian dual citizen Ksenia Karelina to 12 years in jail for treason for donating $51 to a nonprofit organization supporting Ukraine.

Previously Karelina has pleaded guilty to a charge of treason in a Russian court.

Ksenia Karelina, a 33-year-old from Los Angeles, was detained by the FSB earlier this year while visiting her grandparents in Yekaterinburg. She faces charges of treason for contributing $51.80 to the nonprofit organization “Razom for Ukraine.”

Earlier this year, the charity “Razom for Ukraine” expressed its appall at the news of Ksenia’s arrest and clarified that it does not raise funds for weapons or ammunition. The organization, founded in the US, is dedicated to providing humanitarian aid and disaster relief.

Karelina was not included in the recent major prisoner exchange that took place on August 1, which involved 10 prisoners being transferred to Russia, 13 to Germany, and three to the United States. Among the exchanged was the Wall Street Journal journalist Evan Gershkovich.