A Russian court docket has sentenced US-Russian twin nationwide Ksenia Khavana to 12 years in jail on treason costs, following her donation of roughly $52 to a charity aiding Ukraine. The court docket recognized Khavana, a 33-year-old former ballet dancer, by her maiden title, Ksenia Karelina.
Khavana, who reportedly obtained US citizenship after marrying an American and shifting to Los Angeles, was arrested within the Ural Mountains metropolis of Yekaterinburg in February.She pleaded responsible throughout a closed trial final week, based on information reviews. She had returned to Russia to go to her household and was reportedly detained quickly earlier than her deliberate departure.
After arriving in Yekaterinburg in January, Khavana had her cellphone confiscated, which reportedly contained proof of the donation. She was initially jailed for 15 days on petty hooliganism costs earlier than being charged with treason. Russia’s Federal Safety Service accused her of “proactively accumulating cash within the pursuits of one of many Ukrainian organizations, which was subsequently used to buy tactical medical provides, gear, weapons, and ammunition for the Ukrainian armed forces.”
The First Division, a rights group, acknowledged that the costs have been associated to a $51.80 donation made to a US charity. The trial passed off in Yekaterinburg, about 880 miles (1,420 kilometers) east of Moscow.
White Home nationwide safety spokesman John Kirby condemned the conviction, stating it was “nothing lower than vindictive cruelty.” He emphasised, “We’re speaking about 50 bucks. To name that treason is completely ludicrous.” US officers are reportedly working to realize consular entry to Khavana.
Khavana’s lawyer, Mikhail Mushailov, introduced plans to enchantment the decision. He acknowledged that whereas she admitted to transferring the funds, she didn’t intend for them for use by the organizations that acquired them. “She didn’t assume that the funds she transferred can be used for anti-Russian actions,” Mushailov informed Interfax information company.
Since launching its army operation in Ukraine in February 2022, Russia has intensified its crackdown on dissent and enacted legal guidelines criminalizing criticism of the operation and remarks perceived as discrediting the Russian army. Considerations have grown about Russia focusing on US nationals for arrest.
In a associated improvement on Thursday, Moscow’s Meshchansky district court docket ordered a US citizen recognized as Joseph Tater to be held in custody for 2 months pending an investigation into costs of attacking a police officer. A day earlier, the court docket sentenced Tater to fifteen days of administrative arrest on “petty hooliganism” costs.
In accordance with Russian state information businesses Tass and RIA-Novosti, Tater turned abusive after being requested to indicate his paperwork at an upscale lodge on Monday night, utilizing profanities when denied lodging as a result of an absence of required paperwork. Reviews declare he attacked a police officer when taken to a police precinct.
US Embassy officers in Moscow acknowledged consciousness of the reviews however shunned commenting additional as a result of privateness restrictions.
Earlier this month, Russia and Western international locations carried out the biggest prisoner alternate for the reason that finish of the Chilly Conflict. Amongst these included within the swap have been Wall Avenue Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich and American company safety govt Paul Whelan, each convicted of espionage costs they denied, in addition to US-Russian twin nationwide Alsu Kurmasheva, a Radio Liberty/Radio Free Europe journalist sentenced to 6 and a half years for spreading “false data” in regards to the Russian army. Russia additionally launched a number of outstanding opposition figures imprisoned for criticizing the army operation in Ukraine.
Khavana, who reportedly obtained US citizenship after marrying an American and shifting to Los Angeles, was arrested within the Ural Mountains metropolis of Yekaterinburg in February.She pleaded responsible throughout a closed trial final week, based on information reviews. She had returned to Russia to go to her household and was reportedly detained quickly earlier than her deliberate departure.
After arriving in Yekaterinburg in January, Khavana had her cellphone confiscated, which reportedly contained proof of the donation. She was initially jailed for 15 days on petty hooliganism costs earlier than being charged with treason. Russia’s Federal Safety Service accused her of “proactively accumulating cash within the pursuits of one of many Ukrainian organizations, which was subsequently used to buy tactical medical provides, gear, weapons, and ammunition for the Ukrainian armed forces.”
The First Division, a rights group, acknowledged that the costs have been associated to a $51.80 donation made to a US charity. The trial passed off in Yekaterinburg, about 880 miles (1,420 kilometers) east of Moscow.
White Home nationwide safety spokesman John Kirby condemned the conviction, stating it was “nothing lower than vindictive cruelty.” He emphasised, “We’re speaking about 50 bucks. To name that treason is completely ludicrous.” US officers are reportedly working to realize consular entry to Khavana.
Khavana’s lawyer, Mikhail Mushailov, introduced plans to enchantment the decision. He acknowledged that whereas she admitted to transferring the funds, she didn’t intend for them for use by the organizations that acquired them. “She didn’t assume that the funds she transferred can be used for anti-Russian actions,” Mushailov informed Interfax information company.
Since launching its army operation in Ukraine in February 2022, Russia has intensified its crackdown on dissent and enacted legal guidelines criminalizing criticism of the operation and remarks perceived as discrediting the Russian army. Considerations have grown about Russia focusing on US nationals for arrest.
In a associated improvement on Thursday, Moscow’s Meshchansky district court docket ordered a US citizen recognized as Joseph Tater to be held in custody for 2 months pending an investigation into costs of attacking a police officer. A day earlier, the court docket sentenced Tater to fifteen days of administrative arrest on “petty hooliganism” costs.
In accordance with Russian state information businesses Tass and RIA-Novosti, Tater turned abusive after being requested to indicate his paperwork at an upscale lodge on Monday night, utilizing profanities when denied lodging as a result of an absence of required paperwork. Reviews declare he attacked a police officer when taken to a police precinct.
US Embassy officers in Moscow acknowledged consciousness of the reviews however shunned commenting additional as a result of privateness restrictions.
Earlier this month, Russia and Western international locations carried out the biggest prisoner alternate for the reason that finish of the Chilly Conflict. Amongst these included within the swap have been Wall Avenue Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich and American company safety govt Paul Whelan, each convicted of espionage costs they denied, in addition to US-Russian twin nationwide Alsu Kurmasheva, a Radio Liberty/Radio Free Europe journalist sentenced to 6 and a half years for spreading “false data” in regards to the Russian army. Russia additionally launched a number of outstanding opposition figures imprisoned for criticizing the army operation in Ukraine.
