'High treason': Who is Ksenia Karelina? US woman Russia sentenced to 12yrs for donating $51 to Ukraine charity

A Russian court on Thursday (August 15) sentenced dual US-Russian citizen Ksenia Karelina to 12 years in prison. She was found guilty of "high treason" for donating around $50 to a pro-Ukraine charity.

The case has drawn significant criticism, with the White House condemning the ruling as "vindictive cruelty."

Who is Karelina?

Ksenia Karelina is a 32-year-old ballet dancer and spa worker from Los Angeles, United States. She was detained in January while visiting her family in Yekaterinburg, a Russian city in the Urals.

The Sverdlovsk Regional Court, where her trial took place, stated that Karelina had been found "guilty of high treason and sentenced her to 12 years' imprisonment in a general regime colony".

She transferred $51.80 to the New York-based charity "Razom for Ukraine" on February 24, 2022, the day Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

According to the court, the funds were allegedly "used to purchase tactical medical supplies, equipment, weapons and ammunition for the Ukrainian armed forces."

Karelina pleaded guilty to the charges last week, reported state media.

White House expresses outrage

The court's decision has been met with outrage from both her supporters and international observers.The White House was quick to denounce the sentence calling it "nothing less than just vindictive cruelty".

National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby criticised the severity of the punishment and said "We're talking about 50 bucks to try to alleviate the suffering of the people of Ukraine, and to call that treason is just absolutely ludicrous."

Karelina's case is the latest in a series of high-profile incidents involving US citizens detained in Russia on charges of espionage or treason.

Just two weeks earlier, Russia engaged in a major prisoner swap with the West, which resulted in the release of US journalist Evan Gershkovich, former Marine Paul Whelan, and 14 others. However, Karelina was not included in this exchange.

Karelina's boyfriend, Christopher van Heerden, expressed his frustration and sorrow over the verdict. "She’s facing 12 years in prison for a $51 donation that she made as an American citizen on American soil," he said, urging the US State Department to declare her "wrongfully detained" and prioritise her release.

(With inputs from agencies)