The Federal Security Service of Russia announced the arrest of a dual citizen of Russia and the United States on charges of state treason for raising funds for Ukraine. The accused is a 33-year-old woman living in Los Angeles, who allegedly raised money for a Ukrainian organization that supports Ukraine’s military. She was arrested in Yekaterinburg, Russia, and could face up to 20 years in prison if convicted.
The arrest of American citizens in Russia has raised concerns about their treatment and potential use as bargaining chips. On the same day as the woman’s arrest, a Moscow court rejected an appeal by an American reporter for The Wall Street Journal, who was arrested on espionage charges. The United States has requested consular assistance for the woman, but it has not yet been granted.
The detainee has been identified as Ksenia Karelina, who obtained U.S. citizenship in 2021. She was accused of treason for sending just over $50 to a New York-based nonprofit organization that supports Ukraine. Her profile on a Russian social network indicates that she graduated from a university in Yekaterinburg and was once married to a U.S. citizen.
2024-02-20 22:34:41
Original from www.nytimes.com