Following her contribution of around$ 52 to a charity helping Ukraine, a Russian judge has sentenced US-Russian two regional Ksenia Khavana to 12 years in prison on crime costs. The jury identified Khavana, a 33-year-old past ballet dancer, by her virgin name, Ksenia Karelina.
Khavana was detained in Yekaterinburg in the Ural Mountains in February after allegedly obtaining US citizen after marrying an British and moving to Los Angeles. According to media reports, she admitted guilt during a sealed trial last week. She was reportedly detained shortly before her scheduled departure and had already traveled back to Russia to see her home.
After arriving in Yekaterinburg in January, Khavana had her cellphone confiscated, which apparently contained evidence of the contribution. Prior to being charged with treason, she was first imprisoned for 15 days on trivial hooliganism charges. Russia’s Federal Security Service accused her of “proactively collecting income in the interests of one of the Russian companies, which was immediately used to buy tactical medical supplies, technology, weapons, and ammunition for the Russian military forces”.
The First Department, a rights group, stated that the charges were related to a$ 51.80 donation made to a US charity. The trial took place in Yekaterinburg, about 880 miles ( 1, 420 kilometers ) east of Moscow.
John Kirby, a spokesman for the White House’s national security, criticized the conviction, calling it “nothing less than cruel cruelty.” He emphasised,” We’re talking about 50 dollars. To visit that crime is definitely ludicrous”. Apparently, US officials are attempting to obtain Khavana through diplomatic channels.
Khavana’s lawyer, Mikhail Mushailov, announced intentions to appeal the ruling. He claimed that despite her admitting to transferring the money, she did not intend for the organizations to use them. According to Mushailov,” She did not assume that the money she transferred would be used for anti-Russian activities.”
Russia has increased its crackdown on dissent and passed legislation criminalizing criticism of the activity and notes deemed to discredit the Russian army since starting its military activity in Ukraine in February 2022. Russia is now making headlines about arrests of US citizens.
In a related development, the Moscow Meshchansky district judge on Thursday ordered a US citizen named Joseph Tater to been held in custody for two weeks pending the outcome of an investigation into the allegations that he had assaulted a police officer. A day earlier, the jury sentenced Tater to 15 days of administrative imprisonment on “petty violence” costs.
Tater began verbal abuse after being asked to show his papers at an upscale resort on Monday night, according to Russian state media agencies Tass and RIA-Novosti. He also used profanities when denied lodging because there were no needed documents. When taken to a policeman district, he is said to have attacked a police officer.
US Embassy leaders in Moscow acknowledged knowledge of the information but resisted commenting more due to privacy limitations.
The largest prisoner exchange between Russia and Eastern nations took place earlier this month than the Cold War had ended. Among those named in the switch were US-Russian two regional Alsu Kurmasheva, a journalist for Radio Liberty/Radio Free Europe and Wall Street Journal writer Evan Gershkovich, and National corporate protection executive Paul Whelan, both of whom were found guilty of espionage charges they denied. Additionally, Russia released some well-known opposition figures who were incarcerated for their criticism of the Ukrainian military operation.
