Russia opens treason trial against dual US citizen

A dual US-Russian citizen accused of donating around $50 to a pro-Ukrainian charity went on trial for treason in the Russian city of Yekaterinburg Thursday, a regional court said.

Ksenia Karelina, a 32-year-old ballerina living and working in Los Angeles, was detained by police in Yekaterinburg in late January while on a trip to visit her family in Russia.

Prosecutors accuse her of "proactively transferring funds to a Ukrainian organisation, which the Ukrainian Armed Forces subsequently used to purchase tactical medicine, equipment, weapons and ammunition."

US media reported she donated around $50 to a New York-based Ukrainian charity in February 2022, shortly after Russia launched its military offensive.

She faces life in prison if found guilty.

Karelina gave a wistful smile to reporters in court as she sat in the defendants' cage, video published by the regional court showed.

Her partner has publicly petitioned for her release.

Washington has accused Moscow of arresting its citizens on baseless charges to use them as bargaining chips to secure the release of Russians convicted abroad.

Among other US nationals detained in Russia are reporters Evan Gershkovich and Alsu Kurmasheva, a well as former US marine Paul Whelan.

On Wednesday, a court in Russia's far east jailed a US soldier for three years and nine months after convicting him for having threatened to kill his girlfriend and for stealing from her.