BREAKING NEWS: Russian Court Sentences US-Russian Dual National to 12 Years for Treason

 

A Russian court sentenced Ksenia Khavana, a US-Russian dual national, to 12 years in prison on Thursday, convicting her of treason for allegedly raising funds for the Ukrainian military. The court’s decision follows Khavana’s arrest in Ekaterinburg in February and a closed trial where she partially admitted guilt.

The charges against Khavana stemmed from a $51 (£40) donation she made to a US charity supporting Ukraine. Russian authorities, who identify Khavana by her birth name Karelina, alleged that this donation was used to support Ukrainian military efforts, which Khavana’s lawyer, Mikhail Mushailov, disputes.

Mushailov plans to appeal the verdict, noting that while Khavana admitted to transferring the funds, she did not acknowledge intent to support Ukrainian forces. “She admitted guilt in part in transferring the funds but did not admit her intent to transfer the funds to the organizations where they were most likely received,” Mushailov said.

Khavana’s boyfriend, Chris van Heerden, criticized the trial and sentencing in an interview with CBS on Thursday. Van Heerden, who had purchased Khavana’s airline ticket to Russia, expressed frustration with the outcome. “This whole trial is bogus,” he stated. “She’s an American citizen who made a $51.80 donation as an American citizen in Los Angeles, exercising her First Amendment rights. She has done nothing wrong.”

Van Heerden explained that Khavana made the donation at a humanitarian event in Los Angeles in 2022, but was charged under a Russian law enacted the following year. He lamented the situation, emphasizing, “Ksenia should be home. I’m angry and trying to hold my composure.”

Khavana, who obtained US citizenship after marrying an American and moving to Los Angeles, returned to Russia to visit her family. Van Heerden had initially tried to dissuade her from making the trip but eventually relented. He accompanied her as far as Istanbul, where she was reportedly scrutinized by a Russian airline official.

The Russian Federal Security Service accused Khavana of collecting money for a Ukrainian organization that allegedly used the funds to buy tactical medical supplies, equipment, weapons, and ammunition for Ukrainian forces. Mushailov refuted this claim, stating that Khavana did not consciously intend to aid Ukrainian military operations.

Since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, the country has enacted strict laws criminalizing dissent and criticism of the military. The case against Khavana reflects broader concerns about the targeting of US nationals in Russia.

In a significant development earlier this month, Russia released Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich, American corporate security executive Paul Whelan, and US-Russian dual national Alsu Kurmasheva, who had been imprisoned on espionage and false information charges. Despite efforts by Van Heerden to include Khavana in a potential prisoner swap, the recent exchange did not involve her.

Van Heerden expressed disappointment that Khavana was not included in the prisoner swap list, despite assurances from the State Department that there would be opportunities for such negotiations. “I was told there would be no prisoner swap before the US presidential election. Now, there’s been a swap, and Ksenia was not on that list. How did we slip up?”