MOSCOW – A Russian court has sentenced Karolina Karelinia, a former ballerina and dual citizen of the United States and Russia, to 12 years in prison on charges of treason after making a small donation to a charity supporting Ukraine. Karelinia, who had been living in Los Angeles and became a US citizen in 2021, was arrested during a visit to her family in Yekaterinburg in January.
The court in Yekaterinburg, located approximately 1,600 km (1,000 miles) east of Moscow, handed down the sentence after finding Karelinia guilty of treason. Prosecutors had sought a 15-year prison term, but the court instead sentenced her to 12 years in a general regime penal colony.
According to court documents, Karelinia’s charges stemmed from a $51.03 donation made to a Ukrainian organization that provides humanitarian assistance to the Ukrainian military. The transaction reportedly took place on 22 February 2022, the first day of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Russian intelligence agency FSB was believed to have uncovered the transaction during an investigation of Karelinia’s communications.
Karelinia’s lawyer, Mikhail Mushelev, said his client admitted to making the donation but argued that she believed the funds would be used for humanitarian purposes, rather than for military support. Mushelev announced that Karelinia would appeal the sentence, stressing that she only intended to assist victims of the conflict.
The charity in question, Razom for Ukraine, is a US-based nonprofit organization that focuses on humanitarian aid and support for those affected by the war in Ukraine. Representatives of the charity emphasized that they have never raised funds for military purposes.
This case comes after several other recent high-profile trials in Russia, including the sentencing of Evan Gershkovich, a Wall Street Journal reporter, on espionage charges. Human rights groups in Russia have raised concerns about the increasing number of treason and espionage cases tied to the Ukraine conflict and US-Russia relations.
The court’s decision has drawn international attention, with the US State Department closely monitoring the case. US Ambassador to Russia Lynne Tracy has condemned the sentence and urged Russian authorities to release Karelinia immediately. Rights organizations are now calling for diplomatic efforts to ensure her release.
Karelinia’s sentencing is expected to increase tensions between the US and Russia, further complicating diplomatic relations amid the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war.
