Russian-American woman jailed for 12 years for donating $50 to Ukraine charity

A Russian court has sentenced Ksenia Karelina, a 33-year-old Russian-American woman, to 12 years in prison on charges of treason after she made a small donation of just over 50 US Dollars to a US-based charity that supports Ukraine.

The verdict was delivered after a closed trial at the Sverdlovsk regional court, following Karelina's detention earlier this year while she was visiting her grandparents.

Karelina, who pleaded guilty to the charges, was accused of sending money to fund equipment and ammunition for the Ukrainian army, according to RIA Novosti.

Her lawyer, Mikhail Mushailov, has indicated plans to appeal the decision.

The sentencing comes just days after a major prisoner swap between Russia and Western countries, which saw the release of 24 individuals, including former US Marine Paul Whelan and Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich.

The Russian government has recently increased penalties for treason, with President Vladimir Putin raising the maximum sentence from 20 years to life imprisonment last year amid the ongoing war.

Karelina, a resident of Los Angeles who became a US citizen in 2021, was visiting Russia for the first time in several years. Her boyfriend, Chris Van Heerden, revealed that she had been excited about the trip, which he had arranged as a birthday gift. Van Heerden emphasised that Karelina was not politically engaged and had never spoken about the conflict between Russia and Ukraine.

The New York-based non-profit Razom for Ukraine, the organisation to which Karelina allegedly donated, expressed its dismay at her arrest and conviction.

The case has drawn significant attention, particularly due to the court's involvement in previous high-profile cases, including the conviction of Evan Gershkovich for espionage.

Karelina's legal team remains hopeful for a potential inclusion in a future prisoner swap, although her lawyer acknowledges that such negotiations cannot proceed until the verdict is finalised.