Ksenia Khavana, a dual citizen of Russia and the United States, was found guilty of treason in a Russian court on Thursday and sentenced to 12 years in prison on charges related to a donation of about $52 to a charity that helps Ukraine.
Khavanaidentified by the authorities of Russia by her maiden name, Ksenia Karelinawas arrested in the city of Ekaterimburgoin the Urals, in February and pleaded guilty in a closed-door trial last week.
Khavana, one former ballet dancer of 33 yearswould have obtained the US citizenship after marrying an American and moving to Los Angeles. She had returned to Russia to visit her family.
After arriving in Yekaterinburg in January, his phone was allegedly confiscated and the police found evidence of the donation. Shortly before his planned departure, he was imprisoned during 15 days by minor charges of vandalism y thenaccused of treason.
He Federal Security Service of Russia said that Khavana “proactively raised money for the benefit of one of the Ukrainian organizations, which was subsequently used to purchase supplies tactical doctors, equipment, weapons and ammunition for the ukrainian armed forces“.
The White House reacts to the condemnation: “Calling that treason is absolutely ridiculous”
Human rights group The First Department said that The charges stem from a donation of $51.80 to an American charity. The trial took place in Yekaterinburg, about 1,420 kilometers east of Moscow.
The national security spokesman for the White HouseJohn Kirby, said Khavana’s conviction and sentence was “nothing less than a vengeful cruelty” Kirby added that there are US officials working to gain consular access to Khavana. “We’re talking about $50,” Kirby added. “To call that treason is absolutely ridiculous“.
His defense announces that he will appeal
Khavana’s lawyer, Mikhail Mushailov, said that plans to appeal the verdict. “She admitted her culpability in part for transferring the funds, but she did not admit her intent to transfer the funds to the organizations where they were likely received,” she said. “She did not assume that the funds she transferred would be used for anti-Russian actions,” the lawyer added, according to the Interfax news agency.
Since the beginning of the large scale invasion of Ukraine In February 2022, Russia has taken strong measures against dissent and has passed laws criminalizing criticism of Ukraine’s aggression and comments deemed to discredit the Russian military. Since then concern has increased that Russia is looking for American citizens to arrest them.
