Russia’s most important safety company stated on Tuesday that it had arrested a twin citizen of Russia and america on accusations of committing state treason by elevating funds for Ukraine.
The Federal Safety Service, referred to as the F.S.B., recognized the detainee as a 33-year-old lady who lives in Los Angeles. It stated in a press release that she had raised cash for a Ukrainian group that purchased weapons and different gear for Ukraine’s navy.
Perviy Otdel, a gaggle of Russian attorneys who concentrate on circumstances involving accusations of treason and different politically charged allegations, stated that the girl had been accused of treason for sending simply over $50 to Razom for Ukraine, a New York-based nonprofit group that sends help to the nation.
The F.S.B. stated that the girl had been arrested within the metropolis of Yekaterinburg in central Russia. RIA Novosti, a Russian state information company, printed a video that it stated confirmed the girl, carrying a white hat that lined her eyes, being handcuffed and escorted by masked safety service officers.
If convicted, she might resist 20 years in jail.
The detention of Americans on Russian soil lately has raised suspicions that the Kremlin views them as worthwhile property to be traded for high-profile Russians held in custody in america and different Western international locations.
On the identical day that the girl’s arrest was introduced, a Moscow court docket rejected an attraction by Evan Gershkovich, an American reporter for The Wall Road Journal whom Russia arrested final spring on an espionage cost, to raise his pretrial detention. It dominated that Mr. Gershkovich — who, alongside along with his employer and the American authorities, has denied the cost towards him — should keep in jail no less than till the tip of March.
A State Division spokesman, Matthew Miller, informed reporters on Tuesday that america had requested consular help for the girl, however “that has not but been granted.” Mr. Miller added that Russia in impact “doesn’t acknowledge” twin citizenship and considers such folks “to be Russian residents at the start.”
Mr. Miller declined to take a position on whether or not america may formally decide the girl to be “wrongfully detained,” because it does two People already in custody in Russia, Mr. Gershkovich and Paul Whelan. Such a dedication would imply america considers a detainee to be the equal of a hostage, permitting for particular efforts to win their launch.
The variety of state treason circumstances in Russia has been rising steadily since its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in early 2022. Final 12 months, about 50 folks had been accused of the offense, in response to Perviy Otdel, starting from high-profile critics of the Kremlin to a scholar accused of photographing Russian Military formations in his city.
A court docket in Yekaterinburg was scheduled to listen to an attraction by the newly arrested lady on Tuesday, in response to the court docket’s web site, which additionally stated that she was accused of treason.
The Russian information outlet Media Zona recognized her as Ksenia Karelina. Perviy Otdel recognized her as Ksenia (Karelina) Khavana, with Karelina doubtless being her maiden identify.
In keeping with Ms. Karelina’s profile on VK, a Russian social community, she acquired United States citizenship in 2021. Her profile, which additionally recognized her as a scholar on the College of Maryland in Baltimore, stated that she had graduated from Urals Federal College in Yekaterinburg in 2014.
Perviy Otdel stated that the girl was arrested on the finish of January and accused of treason on Feb. 7.
Michael Crowley contributed reporting.