A U.S.-Russian dual citizen has been arrested on charges of treason for allegedly raising funds to support Ukrainian organizations. Viral videos shared online appeared to show the woman being taken to court blindfolded.
Russia’s Federal Security Service shared that the woman, 33, who lived in Los Angeles, was detained in Yekaterinburg, Russia, for “providing financial assistance to a foreign state in activities directed against” Russia’s security, NBC News reported.
“Since February 2022, she has proactively collected funds in the interests of one of the Ukrainian organizations, which were subsequently used to purchase tactical medicine, equipment, weapons, and ammunition by the Ukrainian Armed Forces,” the FSB said in a statement released Tuesday.
The security service also said that the woman was taking part in “public actions in support of the Kyiv regime.”
“Operational search activities and investigative actions continue. The court chose a preventive measure in the form of detention for the accused,” the statement added.
The woman now faces up to 20 years in prison for treason under Article 275 of the Russian Criminal Code. She may also have her property confiscated by the Russian government.
Video on social media has shown the woman being brought into a courthouse in Russia while blindfolded and escorted by armed military guards.
Time has identified the woman as Ksenia Karelina, a ballerina who became a US citizen in 2021 and is married to an American man.
Karelina was arrested on the same day that Russian President Putin sat down with former Fox News host Tucker Carlson, being sentenced to 14 days detention for ‘petty hooliganism’ before she was officially charged with treason.
The United States State Department has not yet commented on the arrest of Karelina.