In a move that has stirred international concern, Russian authorities have detained a Russian-American ballerina on allegations of treason. Officials declared on Tuesday that Ksenia Karelina, 32, was taken into custody, although the precise timing of her arrest remains unclear.
Karelina, with her second citizenship in the United States secured in 2021, has been a resident of Los Angeles. Her presence on social media is one of vibrant engagement with her American lifestyle, evidenced through numerous cheerful photographs. Last summer marked a new chapter in her life as she wed an American national, whose identity has not been disclosed.
“The White House and State Department aware of reports that a dual U.S.-Russia citizen has been detained in Russia. We are working to obtain more information and secure consular access to the individual,” a White House official told DailyMail.com.
The detainment occurred coincidentally on the same January day as President Vladimir Putin’s widely criticized interview with American journalist Tucker Carlson. Karelina faced arrest outside a cinema in the city of Yekaterinburg, where initially, she faced charges linked to verbal misconduct.
This case brings a sense of déjà vu, as Yekaterinburg—Ural region’s largest urban center—witnessed the arrest of Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich on espionage accusations nearly a year prior.
Post-arrest, Karelina’s charges escalated to accusations of providing financial support to a Ukrainian military initiative. She allegedly made a transaction of $51.80 from a bank in the U.S. to Razom, a Ukrainian humanitarian organization.
In Russia, charges of treason bear a grave weight, potentially resulting in imprisonment for up to two decades. Recent statistics since the onset of 2023 highlight a spate of such accusations—with 63 individuals charged and 37 convictions.
Concerns have crested among U.S. officials regarding the status of Karelina. “The White House and State Department are aware of reports that a dual U.S.-Russia citizen has been detained in Russia. We are working to obtain more information and secure consular access to the individual,” an official from the White House communicated to DailyMail.com.
The incident has ignited a spark of apprehension for dual nationals residing in or visiting Russia, indicating the broader implications of geopolitics on individual rights and the exercise of legal justice.