Ksenia Karelina, a Russian ballerina with dual US and Russian citizenship, has been sentenced to 12 years in prison by Russian authorities.
Her crime? Donating £39 to Razom, a charity that provides aid to Ukraine. Karelina, who was visiting her family in southwestern Russia, was arrested in February 2024.
Initially charged with hooliganism, the charges were later escalated to "state treason."
The donation in question was made on the first day of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
According to investigators, Karelina "proactively collected money in the interests of one of the Ukrainian organisations, which was subsequently used to purchase tactical medical supplies, equipment, weapons, and ammunition for the Ukrainian armed forces."
However, Razom, the New York-based non-profit, denies providing military aid to Ukraine. Despite pleading guilty, Karelina's attorney, Mikhail Mushailov, plans to appeal the verdict.
"She admitted guilt in part in transferring the funds, but did not admit her intent to transfer the funds to the organizations where they were most likely received," Mushailov stated.
"She did not assume that the funds she transferred would be used for anti-Russian actions."
The case has garnered international attention and criticism, highlighting the severe penalties Russia imposes on actions perceived as supporting Ukraine.
Karelina’s boyfriend, boxer Chris van Heerden, expressed his distress over the situation, saying, "I could not for the life of me put myself in her shoes and just even imagine what she is going through."
Karelina, who emigrated to the US in 2012 and became an American citizen in 2021, worked as an aesthetician at Ciel Spa in Los Angeles before her arrest.
Her sentencing shows the broader geopolitical tensions between Russia and supporters of Ukraine amidst the ongoing conflict.
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