US-Russian citizen charged with treason for allegedly donating $52

Ksenia Karelina, a 33-year-old US-Russian citizen has been arrested in Russia on charges of treason for allegedly donating $51 to a Ukrainian charity.

According to the Russian Federal Security (FSB), assisting a foreign state in activities directed against Russian security is treason and one could face 20 years in prison.

A statement from her employer, a spa at the SLS Hotel in Beverly Hills, California, Karolina is accused of donating $51.80 to a Ukrainian charity in the US,

In a video shared by Russian state media RIA Novosti showed a woman who is believed to be Karelina with a hat pulled over to her eyes being escorted by a security official in a courtroom holding cell.

Chris Van Heerde, Karelina’s boyfriend told CNN he had bought her tickets to visit the country and spend time with relatives since she had been away for years.

He revealed that Karelina was very excited to take the trip but little did she know what awaited her.

She described Karelina as cheerful and full of life adding that she is a proud Russian and doesn’t watch the news nor has she ever intervened with anything about the war.

Upon being asked about the 20-year prison sentence her girlfriend will face if found guilty Chris said that it would break her as she is a cheerful girl who needs to be out there and with friends.

“I believe America will bring her home,” Chris told CNN

The State Department in the US, however, stated on Tuesday that it was aware of Karelina’s detention but had been granted consular access to her.

“Russia does not recognize dual citizenship, considers them to be Russian citizens first and foremost, and so oftentimes we have a difficult time getting consular assistance, but we will pursue it in all matters where a US citizen is detained,” State Department spokesperson Mathew Miller said at a press briefing.