US-Russian Citizen Arrested for Treason Over $50 Charity Donation

Clear Facts

• The Russian government has arrested Ksenia Karelina, a dual U.S. citizen, on charges of treason for donating $51.80 to Razom, a Ukrainian charity.
• Karelina was arrested in Yekaterinburg, Russia, while visiting her family. If convicted, she could face up to 20 years in prison.
• Razom, the charity to which Karelina donated, has expressed shock at her arrest and called on the U.S. government to demand her release.

In a shocking development, the Russian government has arrested Ksenia Karelina, a 33-year-old dual U.S. citizen, on charges of treason. The reason for her arrest? A modest donation of $51.80 to Razom, a Ukrainian charity based in New York.

The Federal Security Service (FSB) of Russia stated, “Since February 2022, she has been proactively collecting funds in the interests of one of the Ukrainian organizations, which were subsequently used to purchase tactical medicine items, equipment, weapons and ammunition by the Armed Forces of Ukraine.”

Karelina was apprehended in Yekaterinburg, a city in central Russia, during a family visit. The potential consequences of her actions are severe – if found guilty, she could be looking at a sentence of up to 20 years in prison.

Karelina, a resident of Los Angeles, became a U.S. citizen in 2021. Her loved ones are now appealing to the Biden administration for assistance in securing her release and return to the U.S.

“We are all in shock,” said Eleonora Srebroski, Karelina’s former mother-in-law. “She is just a wonderful soul. She would never do anything evil to anyone. Knowing Ksenia, she would never do anything criminal. We are so worried because we are reading stories about [Alexei] Navalny’s supporters arrested for mourning him. Her mom and dad had recently divorced and she wanted to see the family.”

According to The New York Times, Karelina was officially charged with treason on February 7.

It remains unclear how Russian authorities came to know about Karelina’s donation to Razom, as the charity does not make its records public in line with U.S. privacy laws.

“Razom is appalled by reports that a U.S.-Russian dual national has been arrested by Russian authorities for purportedly making a charitable donation to Razom for Ukraine in the immediate aftermath of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine,” said Razom CEO Dora Chomiak. “Russian President Vladimir Putin has repeatedly shown that he holds no sovereign border, foreign nationality, or international treaty above his own narrow interest. His regime attacks civil society activists who stand up for freedom and democracy. Razom calls on the U.S. government to continue to do everything in its power to demand that President Putin release all those unjustly detained by Russia and to hold Russia’s political and military leadership accountable for their unprovoked invasion of Ukraine.”

Before her arrest, Karelina was employed as an aesthetician and spa manager at a Beverly Hills hotel in Los Angeles.

Clear Thoughts (op-ed)

The arrest of Ksenia Karelina, a dual U.S. citizen, in Russia is a chilling reminder of the Putin regime’s contempt for basic human rights and freedoms. A mere donation of $51.80 to a Ukrainian charity has put her at risk of spending 20 years in prison.

This incident highlights the importance of standing up against oppressive governments that trample on individual liberties. It also serves as a wake-up call for the Biden administration to take swift and decisive action in securing Karelina’s release.

As Karelina’s friends and family plead for help, it is crucial for our government to fight for the rights of Americans abroad. The Russian government’s actions are a blatant disregard for the values we hold dear, and we cannot allow them to go unchallenged.

The U.S. must demand Karelina’s release and hold Russia accountable for its actions. We must stand up for our citizens and the principles of freedom and democracy that we believe in.

Let us know what you think, please share your thoughts in the comments below.

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