This grab from a handout video taken and launched by Sverdlovsk Regional Court press service on 20 June, 2024, reveals US-Russian resident Ksenia Karelina standing in a cage at the Sverdlovsk Regional Court in Yekaterinburg. (Photo: HANDOUT/ Sverdlovsk Regional Court press/ AFP) The Los Angeles citizen pleaded guilty at her closed trial in the Urals city of Yekaterinburg, where her case was heard by the exact same court that founded guilty Wall Street Journal press reporter Evan Gershkovich of espionage in July. Learn more in Daily Maverick: SA boxing champ battles to complimentary sweetheart charged with treason in Russia The court stated private investigators discovered that Karelina had, on February 24, 2022– the very first day of Russia’s intrusion of Ukraine– “moved funds in the interests of a Ukrainian organisation, which were consequently utilized for the purchase of tactical medication products, devices, suggests of defeat and ammo by the Armed Forces of Ukraine”. Her fans state she had actually contributed $51.80 (about R930) to Razom for Ukraine, a New York-based charity that supplies humanitarian help to kids and senior individuals in Ukraine. The charity has actually rejected it supplies any military assistance to Kyiv. Karelina appeared in court on Thursday in a white sweatshirt and blue denims, sitting calmly in a glass courtroom cage. The 33-year-old was not consisted of in a significant detainee swap in between Russia and the West recently that released Gershkovich, however her attorney Mikhail Mushailov has actually stated she wanted to be consisted of in a future exchange. Karelina was born in Russia and emigrated to the United States in 2012, getting American citizenship in 2021. She was detained by the FSB security service after flying to Russia to visit her household in Yekaterinburg at the start of the year. Reuters
CLAMPDOWN: Russia sentences US-Russian resident Ksenia Karelina to 12 years in prison for treason
