Russia’s Federal Safety Service (FSB) has arrested a U.S.-Russian girl suspected of accumulating cash for the Ukrainian navy, sparking worldwide consideration and concern.
The lady, recognized as Ksenia Karelina, was apprehended within the metropolis of Yekaterinburg and accused of actively gathering funds for a Ukrainian group to buy tactical drugs, tools, weapons, and ammunition for the Ukrainian Armed Forces.
“As well as, the citizen in query repeatedly took half in public actions in assist of the Kyiv regime whereas within the United States,” in response to a FSB press realease. Nevertheless, the company didn’t determine the accused.
What are the fees towards Ksenia?
Karelina, a former resident of Los Angeles who obtained U.S. citizenship after marrying an American man, reportedly donated $51.80 to Razom, a Ukrainian human rights nonprofit from her American checking account on the day Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022.
Russian authorities have positioned her in pre-trial detention, the place she faces between 12 and 20 years of imprisonment if discovered responsible of excessive treason.
The arrest has raised considerations about Russia’s crackdown on perceived dissent and its therapy of twin residents. Karelina’s case highlights the dangers confronted by people with ties to each the United States and Russia amid escalating tensions between the 2 nations.
There may very well be different comparable instances
This incident comes amidst a wider crackdown by Russian authorities on people perceived as supporting Ukraine or criticizing the Russian authorities.
An analogous case may very well be that of Lolita Bogdanova, a mannequin who held a topless protest in entrance of the Kremlin and who might now be based mostly in California. In response to American media, the nation’s safety companies are in search of Bogdanova.
The arrest of Karelina underscores the challenges confronted by these looking for to navigate the advanced political panorama in Russia and the potential penalties of actions deemed disloyal by the authorities.
