U.S.-Russian Former Ballet Dancer Jailed For 12 Years Over $51 Donation To Ukraine

YEKATERINBURG, Russia (AP) — U.S.-Russian dual nationalist Ksenia Khavana was convicted Thursday of treason successful a Russian court and sentenced to 12 years successful situation connected charges stemming from a $51 aid to a kindness aiding Ukraine.

Khavana, identified by Russian authorities by her maiden sanction of Ksenia Karelina, was arrested successful nan Ural Mountains metropolis of Yekaterinburg successful February and pleaded blameworthy successful a closed proceedings past week, news reports said.

Khavana, a 33-year-old erstwhile ballet dancer, reportedly obtained U.S. citizenship aft marrying an American and moving to Los Angeles. She had returned to Russia to sojourn her family.

Russia’s Federal Security Service said she “proactively collected money successful nan interests of 1 of nan Ukrainian organizations, which was subsequently utilized to acquisition tactical aesculapian supplies, equipment, weapons, and ammunition for nan Ukrainian equipped forces.”

The authorities group The First Department said nan charges stem from a $51 aid to a U.S. charity. The proceedings took spot successful Yekaterinburg, astir 880 miles (1,416 kilometers) eastbound of Moscow.

Her attorney, Mikhail Mushailov, said he planned to entreaty nan verdict.

“She admitted guilt successful portion successful transferring nan funds, but did not admit her intent to transportation nan costs to nan organizations wherever they were astir apt received,” he said.

“She did not presume that nan costs she transferred would beryllium utilized for anti-Russian actions,” he said, according to nan Interfax news agency.

Since sending troops into Ukraine successful February 2022, Russia has sharply cracked down connected dissent and has passed laws that criminalize disapproval of nan cognition successful Ukraine and remarks considered to discredit nan Russian military. Concern has risen since past that Russia is targeting U.S. nationals for arrest.

On Aug. 1, Russia and nan West held the largest captive exchange since nan extremity of nan Cold War. Included successful nan switch was Wall Street Journal newsman Evan Gershkovich and American firm information executive Paul Whelan, some of whom were convicted of espionage charges that they vehemently denied, and U.S.-Russian dual nationalist Alsu Kurmasheva, a Radio Liberty/Radio Free Europe journalist sentenced to 6 1/2 years for spreading “false information” astir nan Russian military.

Russia besides released respective salient guidance figures who were imprisoned for criticizing nan subject cognition successful Ukraine.

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