Following the prisoner exchange with the USA in August, suspected perpetrators from this country are once again being arrested in Russia. This time it is a Russian-American dual citizen.
A court in Yekaterinburg in the Urals has sentenced a young woman with US and Russian citizenship to twelve years in a penal camp for alleged treason. The verdict was passed because Xenia Karelina, who lives in the US metropolis of Los Angeles, is said to have collected money for a Ukrainian organization and used it to work against Russia’s security. Karelina is said to have raised donations for an organization that then purchased material for the Ukrainian armed forces. The sum is said to have been 52 US dollars (about 48 euros).
According to the Russian news agency Interfax, Karelina’s lawyer Mikhail Mushailov said he wanted to appeal the verdict. He also contradicted the court’s statement that his client had fully admitted guilt. Rather, she only admitted to having transferred money without being aware of the anti-Russian purpose.
The domestic secret service FSB reported the arrest of the then 33-year-old in February, but presented no evidence. According to the FSB statement, the money was used to buy medical items, equipment and ammunition. In the USA, the woman took part in several “public actions in support of the Kiev regime,” it said.
US citizens were last released in prisoner exchange
Russia is repeatedly criticized in the USA for deliberately persecuting and arresting its citizens in order to then exchange them for prisoners. Kremlin critics accuse the Moscow power apparatus of “hostage-taking” – with the aim of extorting the release of Russian prisoners abroad. Moscow, in turn, accuses Washington of arresting Russians all over the world and having them extradited to the USA, who are then also used as bargaining chips for an exchange.
On August 1, Kremlin chief Vladimir Putin released Russian criminals imprisoned in the USA by exchanging them for Americans, including the journalist Evan Gershkovich, who had been convicted of espionage. In the course of a prisoner exchange involving seven countries, including Germany, the so-called Tiergarten murderer, who had been convicted in Berlin, was also released.
Just on Wednesday, Russian security authorities arrested a US citizen in Moscow on suspicion of using violence against a policewoman. He was initially sentenced to 15 days in custody, but further proceedings are still pending. In addition to hooliganism, the American must also answer in criminal proceedings for using violence against a representative of the state apparatus.
Source: Stern
I have been working in the news industry for over 6 years, first as a reporter and now as an editor. I have covered politics extensively, and my work has appeared in major newspapers and online news outlets around the world. In addition to my writing, I also contribute regularly to 24 Hours World.
