Ballerina branded ‘US spy’ faces jail for treason over £40 Ukraine donation

A US-Russian ballerina labelled an “American spy” by the Kremlin looked visibly distressed at her treason trial’s outset in Ekaterinburg today.

32-year-old Ksenia Karelina, who could face a prison term of 12 to 20 years if found guilty, is accused of donating $51.80 (£39.43) to a US organisation providing charitable support to Ukraine, which Moscow claims ended up with the Ukrainian military. Ksenia, holding dual citizenship and having lived in the States for ten years, was arrested during a visit to her family in Russia.

The trial, governed by stringent Russian laws, is closed to the public, although the press was briefly allowed to capture her looking exhausted and confined in the courtroom’s glass dock, managing only a weak smile after five months in Russian detention. Russian courts rarely issue not-guilty verdicts in treason cases.

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Karelina is among several Americans detained in Russia, raising concerns they may be pawns in a political game. She reassured her American boyfriend that returning to Russia was safe, prompting him to purchase her flight ticket. However, upon arrival, her phone was scrutinised, leading to initial charges of “petty hooliganism” that escalated to treason.

Karelina, a beautician at a spa in Los Angeles and a ballet enthusiast, finds her fate in the hands of stern judge Andrey Mineev, 56, at the Sverdlovsk Regional Court. The same judge is expected to preside over the “espionage” case against Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich, 32, with proceedings commencing on June 26.

Gershkovich, a US citizen with credentials as a journalist in Russia, faces espionage charges from Moscow during a reporting trip – allegations the West dismisses as ludicrous. A photo has emerged showing Ksenia at an anti-Putin and anti-war rally in Los Angeles, holding a placard with the Ukrainian flag stating ‘We want peace’, which could be the true motive behind the FSB’s harsh treatment.

Beside her, a companion brandishes a ‘Stop Putin’ sign. The origin of these images, now in Russian hands, is uncertain, but it’s known that Karelina’s mobile was scrutinised by Putin’s spooks following her return to Russia in early January.

Putin’s regime brooks no dissent against him or his bloody conflict. Pro-government media have branded her a “spy”, alleging “she understood where and what she was sending [namely, £39.43].” CNN has reported that Chris Van Deerden, Karelina’s partner, explained he gifted her the trip to Russia for her birthday.

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He described her as “proud to be Russian, and she doesn’t watch the news. She doesn’t intervene with anything about the war.” He also expressed his belief: “I believe America will bring her back to me.”

Mineev, a judge with two decades of experience, enjoys the trust of Russian officials and is known for his stringent stance. He once remarked: “If there are many acquittals, it means that [criminal] investigators and the prosecutor’s office are not working well.”

Karelina’s dad Pavel, a 56-year-old Russian man, stated: “Thank you for your call, but sorry, we really can’t say anything now. We ourselves are at a loss to understand what’s going on. Please understand. Thank you for your good wishes.”

Pavel currently serves as the general director of a firm that sells lifting and transport equipment. As reported by Russian news agencies, Karelina’s trial was postponed later in the day, with the following session scheduled for August 7th.

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