Russia's foremost home intelligence company has arrested a lady with twin American and Russian citizenship accused of treason, accusing him of gathering cash for the Ukrainian navy. Authorities haven’t named the girl, however her longtime employer in California recognized her as Ksenia Khavana, her maiden title. Ksenia Karelina.
The Federal Safety Service mentioned in an announcement on Tuesday that the Los Angeles resident was arrested within the metropolis of Yekaterinburg within the Ural Mountains, about 1,100 kilometers east of Moscow. She returned to Russia to go to household.
/ AP
Right here's what is thought about Khavana and Russia's case in opposition to her.
Who’s Ksenia Khavana?
Khavana, 33, is a citizen of the US and Russia.
Unbiased Russian media outlet Mediazona recognized her as Ksenia Karelina, her maiden title, and mentioned she had obtained American citizenship after marrying an American.
Isabella Koretz, proprietor of Ciel Spa at SLS Beverly Hills the place Khavana has labored for eight years, instructed The Related Press that Khavana, a ballet dancer, got here to the US to review on the College of Maryland in Baltimore earlier than transferring to Los Angeles.
She mentioned Khavana is divorced and has no kinfolk in the US.
Fb/Knesia Karelina
In response to Koretz, Khavana tried to see her household in Russia no less than yearly, often round Christmas and New Yr. This yr, Koretz mentioned, Khavana flew to Russia from Istanbul in early January for a two-week journey to spend time along with her 90-year-old grandmother, dad and mom and youthful sister.
Koretz turned involved when Khavana stopped returning his messages and telephone calls after getting into Russia. She mentioned panic set in when Khavana didn’t return from her journey in mid-January as anticipated.
“This lady is like an angel,” Koretz mentioned. “It’s important to perceive that she wouldn't harm a fly.”
What’s she accused of?
CBS Information correspondent Imtiaz Tyab reported that Khavana was arrested after making a donation of solely about $51 to a Ukrainian charity. Russian authorities additionally mentioned she had attended pro-Ukraine demonstrations in the US
Russia's Federal Safety Service says Khavana had been “proactively” elevating funds for a Ukrainian group since February 2022 — cash it says was “subsequently used to purchase tactical medication, gear, weapons and ammunition from the Ukrainian Armed Forces.”
The company additionally mentioned it participated in “public actions” in the US in assist of Kiev. He didn’t present additional particulars in regards to the allegations.
Koretz mentioned Khavana was truly elevating funds for humanitarian help and donated to Razom for Ukraine, a US-based nonprofit that claims it supplies medical kits and catastrophe reduction to these affected by the Russian invasion of the nation.
“We speak about diapers and components, that's what she was elevating cash for,” Koretz mentioned. “We're not speaking about gun cash.”
In her personal assertion Tuesday, the nonprofit's CEO mentioned she was “disenchanted” by media reviews of the arrest, however didn’t title Khavana or verify whether or not the girl had beforehand donated to the charity
The group mentioned in an e-mail to The Related Press that it doesn’t disclose the identities of its donors to guard their privateness.
“Razom calls on the US authorities to proceed to do all the things in its energy to demand that President Putin launch all these wrongfully detained by Russia and to carry Russia's political and navy management accountable for its invasion with out provocation of Ukraine,” Dora Chomiak mentioned in her assertion. .
The place is he now?
White Home Nationwide Safety spokesman John Kirby mentioned the White Home and the State Division have been conscious of the arrest reviews and added that “we are attempting to acquire extra info and safe consular entry to that particular person.”
The Federal Safety Service says she has been ordered detained as a “safety measure” whereas it continues its investigation.
Koretz mentioned Khavana, in the meantime, communicated along with her colleagues on the spa by means of letters and requested them to assist promote her belongings in Los Angeles, together with her automotive.
“He doesn't need to go away anybody with their money owed,” Koretz mentioned.
If convicted of treason underneath article 275 of the Russian Prison Code, Khavana faces 20 years in jail.
Khavana's ex-mother-in-law, Eleonora Srebroski, instructed CBS Information that after the Russian opposition chief. The demise of Alexey Navalny in jailshe is afraid of what would possibly occur to her.
“I'm very, very involved for her, for her bodily well-being,” Srebroski instructed CBS Information on Tuesday. “We all know that Navalny was killed just a few days in the past. We all know that it was not only a demise. It was homicide.”
“I'm in shock,” he instructed CBS Information, including that “there was no justice in Russia.”
Reuters/RU24
The information on Tuesday of Khavana's arrest got here the identical day {that a} court docket within the Russian capital determined to maintain the Wall Avenue Journal reporter. Evan Gershkovich in custody pending his trial on espionage expenses which he denies.
