In a shocking verdict, a Russian court has sentenced Ksenia Karelina, a dual citizen of Russia and the United States, to 15 years in prison for donating $52 to a non-profit organization that provides humanitarian aid to Ukraine. Karelina, 32, was found guilty of treason after the court in Yekaterinburg determined that the funds she donated were used to purchase medical supplies, equipment, and ammunition for Ukraine.
According to the New York Times, the court stated that the funds “were subsequently used to purchase tactical medicine, equipment, weapons, and ammunition” for Ukraine. Karelina’s lawyer, Mikhail Mushailov, expressed his intention to appeal the sentence, stating, “I was not surprised by the prison sentence or the way the trial was conducted.” He also mentioned that details of the trial were classified.
Razom for Ukraine, the non-profit organization that received Karelina’s donation, denied providing weapons to Ukraine’s military, stating, “We are a New York-based non-profit providing humanitarian aid and assistance to Ukraine. We do not provide weapons to Ukraine’s military.” A spokesperson for the organization emphasized their commitment to providing humanitarian aid to the people of Ukraine.
Karelina’s sentence mirrors several cases of Western citizens being convicted of minor misdemeanors in Russia. One such instance was Evan Gershkovich, a Wall Street Journal reporter, who was accused of spying for the US and languished in a Russian prison for over a year. Gershkovich was handed a 16-year jail term until the US government secured his release in a prisoner swap on August 1.
Mushailov plans to appeal the imprisonment to reduce the sentence and work towards a potential prisoner swap between the US government and Ukraine. He stated, “I will do everything legally possible to ensure she is selected for a future prisoner swap between the US government and Ukraine.”
Karelina’s case has raised concerns about the fairness of the Russian justice system and its treatment of Western citizens. The sentence has sparked outrage, with many questioning the severity of the punishment for a relatively small donation.
The Peoples Gazette reported that Karelina obtained her US citizenship in 2021 and was arrested in February when she traveled to Yekaterinburg. Her trial commenced on June 20, and the verdict has left many in shock.
