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Russia Seeks 15-Year Prison Sentence for U.S.-Russian Ballerina

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Russian-American ballerina Ksenia Karelina has pleaded guilty to treason charges following her arrest for donating money to a charity supporting Ukraine. Russian prosecutors are pushing for a 15-year prison sentence after accusing Karelina of collecting funds used to buy tactical supplies for the Ukrainian military.

Karelina was detained in Yekaterinburg, about 1,600 kilometers (1,000 miles) east of Moscow, during a family visit in February. Her detention and the subsequent charges come just a week after a major prisoner swap between Russia and the West, which saw 24 individuals exchanged across seven countries.

Karelina’s lawyer, Mikhail Mushailov, argued that the proposed 15-year sentence is excessively harsh given her cooperation with the investigation. Mushailov also noted that a prisoner exchange cannot occur until after a court verdict is finalized, so Karelina could not have been part of the recent swap. He indicated that efforts to address the situation would begin after the verdict.

The ballerina, who had been living in Los Angeles and became a U.S. citizen in 2021, traveled to Russia for a family visit in January and has been unable to return to her home since. Reports suggest that the treason charge arose from her $50 donation to Razom, a charity supporting Ukraine. Razom has expressed shock at Karelina’s arrest.

Karelina’s case follows a decree signed by Russian President Vladimir Putin in April last year, which increased the maximum penalty for treason from 20 years to life imprisonment as part of a broader crackdown on dissent.

At the time of her arrest, Karelina’s partner, Chris Van Heerden, described her as “proud to be Russian” and expressed hope for her release. Van Heerden has been actively campaigning for U.S. intervention to secure her release. The FSB reported that Karelina was detained in the same city where U.S. journalist Evan Gershkovich was arrested on espionage charges. On August 1, Gershkovich was among 16 prisoners released in a swap for eight Russian prisoners held in the U.S., Norway, Germany, Poland, and Slovenia.

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US Journalist Gershkovich Gets 16 Years in Russia

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US journalist Evan Gershkovich has been sentenced to 16 years in a high-security penal colony by a Russian court, following a trial that has been widely criticized as a “sham” by his employer, family, and the White House. Gershkovich, a reporter for The Wall Street Journal (WSJ), was arrested in March while reporting in Yekaterinburg. Russian authorities accused him of espionage on behalf of the CIA, charges that Gershkovich, the WSJ, and the US government strongly deny.

This conviction marks the first time a US journalist has been found guilty of espionage in Russia since the end of the Cold War. The verdict can be appealed by both sides within 15 days.

The WSJ condemned the trial as disgraceful, emphasizing that Gershkovich has spent 478 days wrongfully detained, separated from his family, and unable to perform his journalistic duties. The publication pledged to continue advocating for his release.

Western leaders have universally condemned the ruling. US President Joe Biden asserted that Gershkovich had committed no crime and was targeted due to his role as a journalist. He reaffirmed the US commitment to press freedom and condemned the attack on journalism.

EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell and UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer also criticized the verdict, with Borrell accusing Russia of using its legal system to punish journalism and Starmer calling the sentence “despicable.”

There is speculation that Gershkovich’s conviction may be linked to potential negotiations for a prisoner swap involving Russian nationals held abroad. Russian observers suggest that a quick verdict might indicate imminent discussions for such an exchange.

The trial, which began last month, saw prosecutors request an 18-year sentence before the hearing was unexpectedly expedited. The charges against Gershkovich involve allegations of collecting secret information about a tank factory, which he and his employer vehemently deny.

Other US detainees in Russia, including Paul Whelan, also face espionage charges. President Biden has stated that securing the release of Gershkovich, Whelan, and other wrongfully detained Americans is a top priority.

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