How $50 support to Ukraine led to US dancer being arrested in Russia

When US-Russian Ksenia Karelina flew to Russia in January from Istanbul, she never thought that she would be detained and become another name in the list of American citizens Moscow has in its custody.

But that’s exactly what happened on Tuesday (20 February) when Russia’s securities services, known as FSB, said that it had arrested a dual citizen of Russia and the United States on accusations of committing state treason by raising funds for Ukraine. The agency said that the 33-year-old woman, who lives in Los Angeles, was arrested in the city of Yekaterinburg, in central Russia.

What do we know of the case and what happens next? We get you the answers.

Ksenia Karelina — woman at the centre of it all

On Tuesday, the Russian agency announced it had detained a 33-year-old woman living in Los Angeles from the city of city of Yekaterinburg, in central Russia. RIA Novosti, a Russian state news agency, published a video that it said showed the woman, wearing a white hat that covered her eyes, being handcuffed and escorted by masked security service officers.

More from Explainers

This Week in Explainers: How recovering from Gen-Z protests is a Himalayan task for Nepal How Tanzania’s ‘hero rats’ are saving lives by sniffing out landmines, tuberculosis

Later, NBC News confirmed the identity of the woman to be Ksenia Karelina based off information it received from a senior US official. The 33-year-old had, according to reports, married an American citizen and moved to the US. She had obtained US citizenship in 2021 and worked at a spa in LA in addition to her being an amateur ballerina.

Her former mother-in-law Eleonora Srebroski described Karelina as “just a very beautiful human being,” and said that as far as she knew, the recently naturalised US citizen had returned to Russia to attend university-level classes on the tourism industry.

Impact Shorts

More Shorts

Ghaziabad woman dead, pilgrims attacked in bus… How Nepal’s Gen-Z protests turned into a living hell for Indian tourists

Were bodyguards involved in Charlie Kirk’s shooting? The many conspiracies surrounding the killing

The Ciel Spa in Beverly Hills, California confirmed that Ksenia was their employee for the past eight years and following the news of her arrest said that she had travelled to Russia to visit her 90-year-old grandmother, parents and younger sister.

The statement by the spa said: “To know Ksenia is to love her. This heartbreaking news is so difficult to share, but it must be done to spread her story and seek justice.”

The spa’s owner, Isabella Koretz, was quoted as telling CBS News, “This girl is like an angel. You have to understand that she wouldn’t hurt a fly.”

Reason for her arrest

The FSB, which did not name Ksenia in its statement announcing the arrest, had been “proactively” raising funds for a Ukrainian organisation since February 2022 — money that it says was “subsequently used to purchase tactical medicine, equipment, weapons and ammunition by the Ukrainian Armed Forces.”

Perviy Otdel, a group of Russian lawyers who specialise in cases involving alleged treason, said the woman has been accused of sending just over $50 (Rs 4,145) to Razom for Ukraine, a nonprofit in New York that sends assistance to Ukraine.

The FSB added that she also took part in “public actions” in the US in support of Kyiv. But did not provide further details about the allegations. They said that she’s been detained as “preventative measure” while it continues its investigation.

Ksenia has now been charged with treason; if convicted, she could face up to 20 years in prison.

However, her now boyfriend Chris Van Heerden has rejected the allegations that the FSB has levelled against her. Speaking to CNN, he said that Ksenia was “so proud to be Russian,” and that she never spoke about Russia’s two-year invasion of Ukraine – “she doesn’t watch the news, she doesn’t intervene with anything,” he said.

Razom, the non-profit involved in the matter, had put out a statement, saying it was “appalled”. “Our activities, which are in keeping with our charitable purpose and our legal obligations as an American charitable organisation, are focused on humanitarian aid, disaster relief, education and advocacy,” Razom for Ukraine CEO Dora Chomiak said.

“Razom calls on the US 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.”

Furthermore, it rejected claims about providing aid for weapons or ammunition. Mykola Murskyj, the director of advocacy for Razom told New York Times, “That’s nonsense. We do provide first-aid supplies to Ukrainian soldiers and those fighting for Ukraine’s independence, but never weapons or ammunition.”

Concerns for Ksenia

Following her detention, Ksenia’s family and friends have expressed concern about her release. Her former mother-in-law, Eleonara Srebroski was quoted as saying, “If we do not do anything, she is going to die in jail. She does not have any hope to get out, because they do not have any justice [in Russia].

“And if we as a country do not help her to come back here, to where she is… we’re going to lose a beautiful person.”

Even Van Heerden has said that he was hopeful the US would not give up on her. “I believe in America. I do believe that America will bring her back to me and that’s the hope I’m holding on to,” he told CNN.

The White House, meanwhile, has said it is seeking further information on the matter. When asked about the same, National Security Council spokesman John Kirby told reporters that he couldn’t comment much on the case, but that the administration was gathering more information. He said that it is dangerous for US citizens or dual citizens to be in Russia right now.

“If you’re a US citizen, including a dual national, residing in or travelling in Russia, you ought to leave right now if you can,” Kirby said. “Just depart immediately.”

State Department spokesman Matthew Miller said at a briefing Tuesday that the US is seeking consular assistance, but that has not yet been granted. “Russia does not recognise dual citizenship, considers them to be Russian citizens first and foremost,” Miller said. “And so oftentimes we have a difficult time getting consular assistance, but we will pursue it in all matters where a US citizen is detained.”

Other Americans jailed in Russia

Ksenia joins other US citizens in prison, including journalist Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich and former marine Paul Whelan.

There’s also US national Robert Romanov Woodland, who was arrested and detained on drug trafficking charges in January. And, Alsu Kurmasheva, a dual Russian American reporter, who was detained late last year and charged with failure to register as a foreign agent.

Russian investigative journalist Andrei Soldatov told CNN that the main goal of Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB) was “to build up a bank of hostages with American passports.” He said Moscow would use it “as leverage” in any future negotiations with Russia.

In fact, in an interview to former Fox News presenter Tucker Carlson , Russian president Vladimir Putin had said on the release of Gershkovich that “an agreement can be reached”.

With inputs from agencies