Woman Spa Worker Who Contributed Rp800 Thousand To Ukraine Sentenced To 12 Years In Prison

PIXABAY ILLUSTRATION

JAKARTA - Ksenia Karelina, a double-citizen spa worker, Russia-American, was sentenced to 12 years in prison. The judge found Karelina guilty of treason for donating Rp800 thousand to a charity in support of Ukraine.

The Los Angeles resident pleaded guilty in a closed trial in the city of Yekaterinburg, Ural, Russia.

The court said investigators found records of Karelina's financial transactions, on February 24, 2022, the first day of Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Karelina transferred funds for the benefit of the Ukrainian organization.

Russia accused the Ukrainian charity of being used for the purchase of tactical drugs, equipment, facilities. defeat and ammunition by the Ukrainian Armed Forces.

Karelina donated 51.80 US dollars (equivalent to Rp801,000 per August 15 exchange) to Razom for Ukraine, a New York-based charity that provides humanitarian assistance to children and the elderly in Ukraine.

The charity denies providing any military support to Kyiv.

Karelina was present in court on Thursday in a white shirt and blue jeans, sitting quietly in a courtroom glass cage.

The 33-year-old woman was not included in a massive exchange of prisoners between Russia and the West last week that freed Gershkovich.

But his lawyer Mikhail Mushailov said he hoped to be included in the exchange of prisoners in the future.

Karelina was born in Russia and emigrated to the United States in 2012, accepting American citizenship in 2021.

He was arrested by the FSB security service after flying to Russia to visit his family in Yekaterinburg at the start of the year.