A U.S.-Russian ballerina who was not portion of past week’s massive captive swap betwixt Russia and the West has pleaded blameworthy Wednesday to a treason charge, reports say.
Ksenia Karelina made her archetypal quality successful Russian court successful Yekaterinburg since the Aug. 1 merchandise of Evan Gershkovich, Paul Whelan and Alsu Kurmasheva, according to Reuters.
Karelina, a dual-citizen, lives successful Los Angeles but was detained portion visiting household successful Russia successful February. Authorities assertion that Karelina raised wealth for the Ukrainian service and took portion successful "public actions" that supported Ukraine portion successful the U.S.
Karelina’s lawyer said Wednesday that she has entered a blameworthy plea and a verdict successful the lawsuit is expected to beryllium announced Thursday, Reuters is reporting, citing Russian authorities media.
WHO WAS INVOLVED IN RUSSIA PRISONER SWAP: AN ASSASSIN, HACKER, SUSPECTED SPIES AND MORE
She reportedly told her fellow that Russia was safe, and helium had nary crushed to fearfulness her visiting, according to her erstwhile mother-in-law Eleonora Sreborski.
While successful Russia earlier this year, authorities reportedly examined Karelina’s phone, producing photos that look to amusement her astatine an anti-Putin and anti-war protestation successful Los Angeles, wherever she was holding a motion declaring, "We privation peace."
One pro-Putin quality outlet indicated that the complaint related to wealth she sent to a Ukrainian foundation – a full sum of $51.80 – claiming "she understood wherever and what she was sending."
Sreborski had claimed that Karelina donated, but that it was to Razom for Ukraine, which sends non-military assistance to the country.
Karelina, soon aft her arrest, tried to entreaty her case, but the tribunal rejected the question and extended her pre-trial detention, which took spot successful a Siberian jail.
If recovered guilty, she would look a condemnation of 12 years to beingness successful prison, Reuters reports.
English (US)