(GoRealNewsNow.com) – For making a small $51 donation in favor of the Ukrainian military, a Russian court sentenced a U.S.-Russian woman to 12 years in prison.
The rights group First Department said the charges arose from a $51 (£40) donation Ksenia Khavana made. Known in Russia by her birth name Karelina, Khavana was arrested in Ekaterinburg in February.
According to news reports, she confessed to the charges in a closed trial last week.
Khavana, who became a U.S. citizen after marrying an American and moving to Los Angeles, had returned to Russia to visit her family.
Furthermore, Russia’s federal security service claimed she proactively collected money in the interests of one of the Ukrainian organizations.
Such money was subsequently used to purchase tactical medical supplies, equipment, weapons, and ammunition for the Ukrainian armed forces.
Since invading Ukraine in February 2022, Russia has intensified its crackdown on dissent and passed laws criminalizing criticism of its military actions and remarks discrediting the Russian military.
Concerns have grown that Russia might be targeting U.S. nationals for arrest.
In a significant Russia-West prisoner exchange this month, Russia released Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich and American corporate security executive Paul Whelan, both imprisoned on espionage charges.
Russia also freed US-Russian dual national Alsu Kurmasheva, a Radio Liberty/Radio Free Europe journalist sentenced to six-and-a-half years for spreading “false information” about the Russian military.
Additionally, Russia released several prominent opposition figures who had been jailed for criticizing its military operation in Ukraine.
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