Russian Ballerina Jailed for Treason Over Charity Donation

Ksenia Karelina, a Russian-born ballerina and US citizen, has been sentenced to 12 years in prison in Russia after being convicted of treason for donating £39 to a charity linked to Ukraine.

Karelina was detained during a visit to her family in southwestern Russia and initially faced charges of hooliganism.

However, the charges were later elevated to state treason, with investigators alleging that she

“proactively collected money in the interests of one of the Ukrainian organizations,”

which was used to fund tactical supplies and equipment for the Ukrainian armed forces.

This shocking turn of events has left Karelina’s loved ones and supporters in disbelief, with her boyfriend, Chris van Heerden, describing the trial as

“upsetting and nerve-wracking.”

Karelina emigrated to the US in 2012 and received American citizenship in 2021, pleaded guilty to the charges, despite likely not realizing that her donation would be used for such purposes.

The case highlights the severity with which the Russian government views any form of assistance to Ukraine, regardless of intent.

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She worked as an aesthetician in Los Angeles before her arrest, likely regrets her charitable gesture, which was intended to help those in need but has instead resulted in a harsh prison sentence.

Her situation serves as a cautionary tale of the risks involved in making donations without fully understanding the implications, especially in the context of the tense relations between Russia and Ukraine.