Russian Prosecutors Seek 15-Year Sentence for Russia-US Dual Citizen

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Facts

  • Russia's state media reported Thursday that prosecutors are seeking a 15-year sentence in the case of a Russian-American dual citizen who pleaded guilty to treason after donating money to a US-based charity helping Ukraine.[1][2]
  • Ksenia Khavana, whom Russian officials identified by her maiden name of Karelina, was arrested in Yekaterinburg earlier this year upon her return to Russia to visit family.[3]
  • This comes as she gave $51.80 to Razom for Ukraine — a non-profit organization that Moscow claims purchases tactical military supplies for Ukraine — the day the Russia-Ukraine war began.[4]
  • Her lawyer, Mikhail Mushailov, argued the request for 15 years was too harsh because his client had cooperated with the investigation, including by voluntarily giving up her phone.[5]
  • He added that she hopes to be released as part of a future prisoner swap with the US but that conversations on this were not possible until she was sentenced — currently scheduled for August 15.[6]
  • The 33-year-old, Russian-born ballerina emigrated to the US in 2012 and reportedly obtained her citizenship by marrying an American in 2021. She used to work at a spa in Beverley Hills, Calif., before her arrest.[7][8]

Sources: [1]CBS, [2]The Moscow Times, [3]Associated Press, [4]Independent, [5]Al Jazeera, [6]TASS, [7]Newsweek and [8]Sky News.

Narratives

  • Anti-Russia narrative, as provided by Associated Press. Since launching his invasion of Ukraine, Russian Pres. Vladimir Putin has enacted a harsh regime to crack down on all forms of dissent in the country. Russia has also increasingly been arresting Russia-US dual citizens in an attempt to improve their hand in future prisoner swap negotiations.
  • Pro-Russia narrative, as provided by TASS. Karelina donated money to an organization that supports Ukraine's armed forces in violation of Russia's laws and has even pleaded guilty to her crime. As she is set to be sentenced on August 15, it's difficult to understand why the West is crying foul.

Predictions