After the historic prisoner exchange between Russia and the West, the madness continues in the largest country in the world. A young woman who holds dual Russian and American citizenship is now on trial for donating just $50 (about 45 euros) to Ukraine. She faces 15 years in prison.
The beautiful 33-year-old Ksenia Karelina lived a happy life in Los Angeles after studying in Russia. In 2021, she proudly announced on social media that she had been granted American citizenship. However, the dream of a carefree life during emigration, which is common to many Russians and yet often unattainable, was shattered in February of this year when she visited her grandparents in Yekaterinburg.
“I thought this trip might be dangerous for her because of the whole situation with the war in Ukraine. But she assured me she was Russian and that everything would be fine,” her partner told the Los Angeles Times. “So I gave her a plane ticket for her birthday. She was so excited. Now I hate myself for it.”
The smartphone was fatal
The arbitrariness of the authorities became apparent immediately after Karelina’s arrival. Her friend says she was interrogated for hours. After her smartphone was confiscated, the woman was ordered to stay in Yekaterinburg and report weekly. The 33-year-old was finally arrested in late February. The accusation: two days after the start of Russia’s major war of aggression, she donated $51 to Ukraine, thereby committing state treason. According to Russian media, Karelina pleads guilty:
The prosecutor is now demanding a 15-year prison sentence. The prospects are bleak. According to the independent news channel SotaVision, Karelina will appear before the same judge as American reporter Evan Gershkovich, who was released a few days ago. He sentenced the journalist, who was also arrested in the city of Yekaterinburg, to 16 years in prison. According to her lawyer, the woman is now also hoping for a prisoner exchange:
Unprecedented action freed prominent prisoners
On August 1, Russia, Belarus and several Western countries exchanged a total of 26 prisoners at Ankara airport in an unprecedented operation involving the Turkish secret service MIT.
In exchange for the release of political prisoners and Kremlin critics, Germany, the United States and partner countries allowed a convicted murderer and prisoners suspected of espionage to leave Russia. Gershkovich, former US soldier Paul Whelan and American journalist Alsu Kurmasheva arrived in the US on the night of August 2. 13 people had landed in Cologne earlier.
According to the Wall Street Journal, the 32-year-old Gershkovich was not simply flown out of Russia. While still in prison, he had to fill out an official pardon request from President Putin. In the last sentence, he made a suggestion to the Kremlin boss: would he be willing to sit down for an interview after Gershkovich’s release? Nothing is known about a reaction from the Russian president.
Source: Krone
I am Wallace Jones, an experienced journalist. I specialize in writing for the world section of Today Times Live. With over a decade of experience, I have developed an eye for detail when it comes to reporting on local and global stories. My passion lies in uncovering the truth through my investigative skills and creating thought-provoking content that resonates with readers worldwide.
