US ballet dancer in Russian jail over $50 Ukraine donation 'on list for prisoner swap'

Ksenia Karelina, 33, a ballet dancer from Los Angeles, was arrested connected a travel to Russia and enactment successful a penal colony aft giving a 50 dollar donation to a pro-Ukraine charity

An American ballet dancer jailed successful a Russian penal colony implicit a $50 donation to a pro-Ukraine foundation could beryllium connected a captive speech list.

Ksenia Karelina, 33, this week had an entreaty against a 12-year jailhouse sentence, fixed successful August, turned down by an appeals tribunal successful Russia over a complaint of precocious treason.

"The defendant's entreaty was rejected. The condemnation volition truthful participate into force," the appeals tribunal successful the Sverdlovsk portion said connected Telegram.

Ms Karelina, from Los Angeles who besides has Russian citizenship, was sentenced implicit giving $51.80 (£40.76) to an organisation successful the US that offers charitable assistance to Ukraine. She was arrested successful January this twelvemonth portion visiting household successful the Urals metropolis of Yekaterinburg initially connected the complaint of “petty hooliganism” which was aboriginal changed to “treason”.

She reportedly had her telephone confiscated successful Yekaterinburg and constabulary recovered grounds connected the telephone of the donation. Shortly aft Russia started its penetration of Ukraine successful February 2022, she reportedly gave the donation to the New York based foundation Razom for Ukraine and Russia ’s spy agency, the FSB, claimed the wealth was utilized to boost the Ukrainian army.

It stated she “proactively collected wealth successful the interests of 1 of the Ukrainian organizations, which was subsequently utilized to acquisition tactical aesculapian supplies, equipment, weapons, and ammunition for the Ukrainian equipped forces.”

Her entreaty was rejected by the Second Court of Appeal of General Jurisdiction and sent to a penal colony but her lawyer Mikhail Mushailov confirmed to Ponyatno Media she is connected a captive speech database though it is unclear whoelse is included. “We knew an speech would hap 1 mode oregon another. We did everything indispensable for it,” helium stated.

It has besides been reported successful Russia that the Foreign Ministry has a database of 70 radical charged successful the US connected spy charges who would beryllium candidates for a captive swap successful February aft Donald Trump becomes US president.

Tough sentences handed down to US citizens similar Ms Karelina person been seen successful the West arsenic a bargaining instrumentality for captive exchanges specified arsenic the woody which saw Wall Street Journal newsman Evan Gershkovich instrumentality to the United States this year.

White House nationalist information spokesperson John Kirby said that the condemnation and sentencing of Ms Karelina was “nothing little than vindictive cruelty.” He added: “We’re talking astir 50 bucks,” Kirby added. “To telephone that treason is perfectly ludicrous”