Russian Court Sentences Dual Citizen for Treason
A court in Yekaterinburg, Russia, has handed down a sentence of 12 years in prison to Ksenia Karelina, a 32-year-old dual citizen of Russia and the United States. The charges against her centered on the accusation of treason, stemming from her donation of approximately $50 intended for the armed forces of Ukraine.
The court asserted that the funds donated by Karelina were subsequently utilized to procure tactical medical supplies, equipment, weapons, and ammunition for Ukraine. In Russia’s tightly controlled judicial system, convictions in treason cases are almost a foregone conclusion, and Karelina’s case appears to follow this troubling trend.
Her lawyer, Mikhail Mushailov, expressed his lack of surprise regarding both the prison sentence and the manner in which the trial unfolded. Speaking from Yekaterinburg, he stated, “I was not surprised by the prison sentence or the way the trial was conducted.”
The conviction of Ksenia Karelina, who is also known by the name Ksenia Khavana, is part of a broader pattern of treason and related cases that have emerged against individuals from Western nations. This increase in such prosecutions has sparked apprehension that the Kremlin perceives these individuals as potential bargaining chips in negotiations for the release of high-profile Russians detained by the United States and other Western countries.
In addition to planning to appeal Karelina’s sentence, Mr. Mushailov mentioned that he would be pursuing “all the legally required actions” to ensure that she is considered for any future prisoner exchanges between Russia and the West.
