The American woman detained in Russia for allegedly collaborating with Ukraine was identified as Ksenia Karelina, a 33-year-old beautician and amateur dancer who traveled from Los Angeles - where she lives - to the city of Yekaterinburg to visit her parents. The Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) - heir to the USSR-era intelligence agency, the KGB - arrested her after accusing her of treason for donating money to the Ukrainian army.
US citizen Ksenia Karelina was arrested in the case of treason in Russia, Mediazona found out. She was first detained in Yekaterinburg at the end of January and then sentenced to 14 days of arrest for “swearing”
Photo: Ksenia Karelina / VK https://t.co/o9ELSl1nwn pic.twitter.com/JWfXG3G0Xy
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A U.S. official who confirmed Karelina's identity to CNN stated that the government became aware of the arrest for the first time on February 8.
Arrested for donating $52
A close friend clarified that Karelina donated $51.80 to a non-profit organization called Razom. The group raises money that goes to Ukraine. Even so, the Kremlin remains firm in its idea that Karelina committed treason. She could face a prison sentence ranging from 12 years to life imprisonment.
Karelina was arrested in the city of Yekaterinburg, the same location where Russian authorities arrested Wall Street Journal journalist Evan Gershkovich in March. The FSB reported that it had been monitoring her continuously for two years before her arrest.
