A distressing video has emerged, capturing the apprehension of Ksenia Karelina, a 33-year-old American woman with dual citizenship, by the Russian Federal Security Service (FSB). Blindfolded and escorted through a narrow hallway, Karelina’s detention occurred in Yekaterinburg, Russia, where she was accused of involvement in high treason. The specific allegation was related to her purported fundraising activities for the Ukrainian army, with one report citing a minuscule amount of $51.80.
Karelina, who resides in Los Angeles and gained US citizenship in 2021, was visiting her parents in Russia when she was detained and held in pretrial detention. The FSB, as reported by Russian state news agency TASS, claimed to have thwarted her “illegal activities” associated with providing financial assistance to a foreign state, namely Ukraine. The gravity of the accusation is underscored by the potential sentence of up to 20 years behind bars for the crime of treason in Russia.
❗🇷🇺⚔️🇺🇸🇺🇦 Russian authorities detained a citizen with dual nationality of Russia and the United States and residing in Los Angeles, Ksenia Karelina, on suspicion of treason.
According to the Russian government, Karelina was dedicated to collecting funds for an unidentified… pic.twitter.com/0Zn5jNJfDs
— 🔥🗞The Informant (@theinformant_x) February 20, 2024
The suspicion surrounding Karelina extends to her alleged participation in public events in the United States advocating for support to Ukraine. According to Russians, she had been collecting funds for a Ukrainian organization since February 2022, coinciding with the invasion of Ukraine by Russian forces under President Vladimir Putin. This military aggression resulted in a devastating war that claimed hundreds of thousands of lives.
Political scientist Fyodor Krasheninnikov, citing acquaintances of Karelina, revealed her academic background as a graduate of Ural Federal University in Yekaterinburg. He speculated that her support for Ukraine might have been manifested through social media posts or fundraising activities. Krasheninnikov’s cautionary advice resonates deeply: any form of support for Ukraine, whether through protests, social media advocacy, or financial contributions, could potentially lead to severe consequences in Russia’s current political climate.
Karelina’s detention is not an isolated incident; it comes amidst heightened tensions between Russia and the West, exemplified by the arrest of another American, Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich, on espionage charges. In a recent interview with Fox News, President Putin hinted at the possibility of resolving Gershkovich’s case through negotiation, suggesting a broader diplomatic context to these arrests and the complex relationship between Russia and the United States.
The detention of Ksenia Karelina underscores the precarious position faced by individuals with dual nationality and those advocating for causes deemed adversarial by authoritarian regimes. As international attention focuses on these cases, the imperative for diplomatic resolution and the protection of human rights remains paramount.
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