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A US-Russian ballerina has been jailed for 12 years in Russia after donating $51 (£40) to a charity supporting Ukraine.
Ksenia Karelina was arrested in Yekaterinburg in February after returning to Russia to go to her household.
She pleaded responsible in her closed trial final week.
Prosectuors had sought a 15-year jail time period which her lawyer, Mikhail Mushailov, mentioned was too extreme for the character of her infraction, and argued her cooperation within the investigation ought to earn her some good will within the courtroom.
On Thursday, it emerged she had been handed a 12-year sentence to serve out in a common regime penal colony in Russia.
Karelina obtained US citizenship in 2021 after marrying an American and shifting to Los Angeles, the place she labored at a spa.
Russia’s FSB safety service claimed she “proactively collected cash within the pursuits of one of many Ukrainian organisations, which was subsequently used to buy tactical medical provides, gear, weapons, and ammunition for the Ukrainian armed forces”.
Karelina had gone on vacation along with her accomplice Chris Van Heerden to Istanbul earlier this yr. Van Heerden then returned to the US, whereas Karelina traveled onto Russia to see her household.
There, she was arrested for treason after she transferred $51.80 from her American checking account to the account of Razom for Ukraine, a New York-based charity, on the day that Vladimir Putin launched his full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
The charity beforehand mentioned it was “appalled” by her arrest. Its web site says it helps a variety of humanitarian initiatives together with the availability of first assist kits, wooden stoves, mills, radios and automobiles to frontline Ukrainian medics.
It additionally helps Ukrainian kids and weak communities affected by the warfare, together with by offering meals, shelter, psychological assist and clear water.
Since her arrest, Karelina’s accomplice has been campaigning for her launch.
“I consider America will deliver her again to me,” Van Heerden informed CNN earlier this yr.
He informed the Los Angeles Instances in February that he had feared “it is likely to be harmful for her to go” onto Russia on her personal “with the whole lot happening with the warfare in Ukraine, however she reassured me that she was Russian and that the whole lot can be advantageous.”
“So, for her birthday in December, I purchased her a ticket. She was so excited. Now, I’m hitting myself over the top about it.”
Her conviction and sentencing comes simply weeks after the US and Russia accomplished a large prisoner swap involving 24 individuals following many months of negotiations and concessions from different European nations.
Amongst these launched was Wall Road Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich who was additionally arrested on espionage fees whereas he was visiting Yekaterinburg.
It was the most important prisoner swap between the 2 nations in post-Soviet historical past – however a number of People stay behind in Russian prisons, together with Karelina.
Her lawyer informed reporters final week that after a verdict was reached her authorized crew would start working towards together with her in a future prisoner swap.
