American ballerina Ksenia Karelina is hoping for a prisoner exchange as she faces 15 years in prison in Russia over a $50 donation to a Ukrainian charity in 2022.
Russian-American Karelina, 33, urged her lawyer to request a prisoner exchange following the release of Wall Street Journal journalist Evan Gershkovich, 32, who was unjustly detained for 491 days in Russian captivity.
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Dancer and beautician Karelina was visiting family in Russia in January when she was detained.
The Russian government learned that Karelina donated around $50, or £39, to Razom, a charity supporting Ukraine, in 2022.
Russia considered the charity to be aid to the Ukrainian military and promised to arrest anyone for treason if they contributed.
After months in prison, Karelina agreed this week to plead guilty to treason and now prosecutors are seeking a 15-year prison sentence.
READ MORE about Evan Gershkovich
Karelina’s lawyer, Mikhail Mushailov, called the sentence excessive because she has cooperated with the investigation, according to the BBC.
Speaking about a possible prisoner exchange, Mushailov said it was “impossible” for the ballerina to have been included in the same exchange as Evan because the exchange is only possible once the court has reached a verdict.
“After the verdict, of course, we will work in this direction,” said Mushailov, for Daily Mail.
“This is the customer’s desire, so I will take all legally significant steps to ensure this is implemented.”
Karelina became a United States citizen in 2021 and was living in Los Angeles, California before her arrest.
She pleaded guilty on Thursday and made a final appeal to judge Andrey Mineev, 56, in a closed-door hearing at the Sverdlovsk Regional Court, Yekaterinburg, Russia – 24 hours east of Moscow.
Her case is being handled by the same judge who sentenced Evan to 16 years in prison on false charges.
‘SHOCKED’
The charity Razom said it was “shocked” to learn of Karelina’s arrest.
The dancer’s boyfriend, Chris Van Heerden, told the BBC when she was detained that she was proud to be Russian.
He bought her a plane ticket to see her parents and younger sister in Russia as a gift and she said at the time that the trip would be safe.
Van Heerden, a professional boxer from South Africa, has been campaigning for the US to help free Karelina.
She is being held in Yekaterinburg, the same city where Evan was detained for sentencing.
Evan Gershkovich’s arrest timeline
Falsely imprisoned Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich was detained on unsubstantiated espionage charges in March 2023.
Here is a timeline of key events:
Russia’s security service, the FSB, accused him of espionage – an accusation he, the WSJ and the US government deny.
They argued – without evidence – that he collected “information constituting state secrets about the activities of one of the enterprises of the Russian military-industrial complex.”
Day 12: April 10, 2023 – The US designated Gershkovich as unjustly detained and launched an effort with Russia to free him.
Day 20: April 18, 2023 – A Moscow court upheld his pre-trial detention, denied him bail and ordered him detained in the capital’s infamous Lefortovo prison.
Day 55: May 23, 2023 – Gershkovich’s detention was extended until at least August 30.
His parents, Ella Milman and Mikhail Gershkovich, traveled to the hearing and said, “Any parent who loves their child would travel to the ends of the earth to be with them for five minutes.”
Day 76: June 13, 2023 – The White House called on Russia to immediately release Gershkovich and also to release former US Marine Paul Whelan, who was convicted of espionage in 2020.
Day 85: June 22, 2023 – A Moscow court upheld the extension of Gershkovich’s detention until at least August 30.
Day 100: July 7, 2023 – The world press showed solidarity with the reporter when his shameful detention reached 100 days.
Day 174: September 19, 2023 – Gershkovich had another appeal for freedom blocked.
Day 195: October 10, 2023 – The American reporter had yet another appeal denied, which would have extended his detention until at least November 30th.
Day 244: November 28, 2023 – A court ruled that Gershkovich would remain in pre-trial detention until at least January 30.
Day 303: January 26, 2024 – The innocent journalist’s prison term was extended until the end of March.
Day 316: February 8, 2024 – Vladimir Putin told US TV host Tucker Carlson that an agreement could be reached between Russia and the US over Gershkovich.
Day 363: March 26, 2024: Gershkovich’s detention will last until June 30, when he approaches a year behind bars.
Day 442: June 13, 2024: Russian authorities announce that he will be tried on false charges that the reporter was spying for the CIA
Day 455: June 26, 2024: Closed-door sham trial begins in Yekaterinburg at Sverdlovsk court with Evan appearing inside a glass cage
Day 478: July 19, 2024: Evan sentenced to 16 years in prison in Russia
Day 491: August 1, 2024: Evan is released as part of historic prisoner exchange deal between Russia and the West
HISTORICAL EXCHANGE
On August 1, Evan returned home after being detained by the Russian government for 491 days.
Evan was wrongfully detained in March 2023 while working as a journalist in the city of Yekaterinburg in the Ural Mountains.
Russian President Vladimir Putin accused him of spying for the US and was convicted during a sham trial last month.
He faces up to 16 years in a Russian prison.
But the journalist finally returned home with two other Americans wrongfully detained in Russia as part of a prisoner exchange this month.
Russian-American Radio Free Europe editor Alsu Kurmasheva, 47, and former US Marine Paul Whelan, 54, accompanied Evan on his release from Russian custody.
Alsou was arrested last year and Paul was detained in 2018.
Both President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris met the group as they got off the plane in the United States.
Supporters and family also filled the track applauding his arrival.
Biden spoke to reporters as the three Americans exchanged tearful hugs with their families.
“There is nothing beyond our ability when we act together,” he said.
“For me, it’s about who we are as a country. It’s about being able to have access to the people you love and adore.”
When asked if he had a message for Putin, Biden said simply: “Stop.”
His return was only possible due to a prisoner exchange that involved seven countries, with Turkey as the main negotiator.
The exchange involved 24 other prisoners from at least six countries.
It was one of the largest and most complex exchanges between the West and Russia since the Cold War.
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This story originally appeared on The-sun.com read the full story
