The Russian government has arrested Ksenia Karelina, a dual U.S. citizen, on charges of treason for making a small charitable donation to a Ukrainian organization. This news has sparked outrage, not just among her family and friends, but also within the international community.
According to reports, Karelina, a 33-year-old Los Angeles resident, donated just $51.80 to Razom, a New York-based charity that provides aid to Ukraine. However, the Federal Security Service (FSB) claims that this donation was used to purchase tactical equipment and ammunition for the Armed Forces of Ukraine. As a result, Karelina now faces up to 20 years in prison if convicted.
Karelina’s mother-in-law and ex-husband are pleading with the Biden administration for help in securing her release. They describe Karelina as a “wonderful soul” who would never do anything criminal and are worried for her well-being in the harsh Russian prison system.
“We are all in shock,” said Eleonora Srebroski, Karelina’s former mother-in-law, told the New York Post. “She is just a wonderful soul. She would never do anything evil to anyone. Knowing Ksenia, she would never do anything criminal. We are so worried because we are reading stories about [Alexei] Navalny’s supporters arrested for mourning him. Her mom and dad had recently divorced and she wanted to see the family.”
The arrest of Karelina is just another example of the Russian government’s blatant disregard for human rights and international law. It is alarming that a simple act of charity could be twisted into a treasonous act.
Razom, the charity that Karelina donated to, has condemned her arrest and called on the U.S. government to demand her release. They also urge for accountability for Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Razom CEO Dora Chomiak said, “Russian President Vladimir Putin has repeatedly shown that he holds no sovereign border, foreign nationality, or international treaty above his own narrow interest. His regime attacks civil society activists who stand up for freedom and democracy. Razom calls on the U.S. government to continue to do everything in its power to demand that President Putin release all those unjustly detained by Russia and to hold Russia’s political and military leadership accountable for their unprovoked invasion of Ukraine.”
It is unclear how the Russian government became aware of Karelina’s donation, as U.S. privacy laws protect individual donation records. This raises concerns about the government’s tactics and the safety of individuals who support humanitarian causes in politically sensitive regions.
US citizen Ksenia Karelina was arrested in the case of treason in Russia, Mediazona found out. She was first detained in Yekaterinburg at the end of January and then sentenced to 14 days of arrest for “swearing”
Photo: Ksenia Karelina / VK https://t.co/o9ELSl1nwn pic.twitter.com/JWfXG3G0Xy
— Mediazona English (@mediazona_en) February 20, 2024
Karelina’s arrest is not an isolated incident. The Russian government has a long history of cracking down on civil society activists and stifling any form of dissent. This latest move is just another example of their authoritarian regime’s disregard for human rights and the rule of law.
