Yekaterinburg, Russia: Ksenia Karelina, a 21-year-old Russian woman, has been sentenced to 9 years in prison for donating $30 to a Ukrainian charity, highlighting the severe consequences of supporting Ukraine within Russia. Karelina was detained in late January while visiting her family in Yekaterinburg. Prosecutors accused her of transferring funds to a Ukrainian organization allegedly used by the Ukrainian Armed Forces for purchasing tactical gear, equipment, and ammunition.
The trial, held behind closed doors in Yekaterinburg, has drawn international attention, coinciding with another high-profile case involving Evan Gershkovich, a Wall Street Journal reporter charged with espionage.
Also Read: Poland to Increase Troops on Belarus Border Amid Tensions
Video from the regional court showed Karelina smiling wistfully at reporters from the defendants’ cage before the closed-door proceedings. Her partner has publicly appealed for her release.
The sentencing comes amid broader crackdowns on dissent in Russia following its military intervention in Ukraine in February 2022. Critics argue that recent legislation criminalizes any criticism of Russia’s actions in Ukraine or comments deemed to discredit the Russian military.
The United States has condemned Karelina’s sentencing, accusing Moscow of arbitrarily detaining individuals to use them as bargaining chips in international relations. Evan Gershkovich’s case, in particular, has sparked diplomatic tensions, with the US State Department asserting his detention as unjust.
The trial for Karelina is set to continue with another hearing scheduled for August 7, while international scrutiny mounts over Russia’s handling of dissent and human rights amid geopolitical tensions.
