A Russian court on Monday turned down an appeal by U.S.-Russian citizen Ksenia Karelina versus a 12-year prison sentence for contributing around $50 to a pro-Ukraine charity.
The defendants appeal was turned down.
The sentence will for that reason enter into force, the Sverdlovsk area appeals court stated in a declaration on Telegram.Karelina was arrested in January 2024 while going to family in the Urals city of Yekaterinburg.
At first, she was apprehended for petty hooliganism but the charge was later altered to treason.
The 32-year-old ballet dancer and day spa employee from Los Angeles was condemned of treason in August.Karelina contributed $51.80 to the New York-based charity, Razom for Ukraine, shortly after Russia launched its major intrusion inFebruary 2022, U.S.
media reported, citing her household and employer.Russias Federal Security Service (FSB) accused her of gathering money that was used to acquire tactical medical products, equipment, weapons and ammo for the Ukrainian armed forces.
Karelina is among a number of US people and dual residents sent to prison in Russia.