Russia’s Federal Security Service, known as the FSB, said the 33-year-old Los Angeles resident was arrested in the city of Yekaterinburg and was, quote “involved in providing financial assistance to a foreign state in activities directed against the security of our country” end quote.
Senior U.S. officials confirmed to several news outlets that the detainee is Ksenia Karelina, who became a U.S. citizen in 2021. Karelina was visiting family in Russia, including her 90-year-old grandmother, according to her co-workers at Ciel spa in the SLS Hotel in Beverly Hills, California.
The esthetician and ballerina allegedly donated $51.80 to Razom for Ukraine, a New York-based non-profit, after Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. In a statement, Razom’s CEO Dora Chomiak said it was, quote “appalled” by Russia’s actions and urged the U.S. government to, quote “do everything in its power to demand that President Putin release all those unjustly detained” end quote.
Here’s Professor Robert English, Director of the USC School of International Relations and expert on the politics of Russia.
English: For the Putin regime, I think it serves two purposes. One is it sends a really stern warning to anybody else: don’t speak out. Don’t take a public stance criticizing the Kremlin, criticizing Putin, criticizing the war, or you’ll be punished. And, ordinary Russians have experienced that time and again.
English said Karelina’s dual citizenship makes her more vulnerable, as she can be prosecuted under Russian law as a Russian citizen betraying her own country. He said this arrest is meant to send a message, as the Russian justice system is often arbitrary and unpredictable.
English: One case might be ignored or get a slap on the wrist, one might be punished as if it’s a capital crime. And, it’s not knowing which category you’ll fall into — it’s not knowing what the authorities might do that keeps people scared and guessing.
English explains how Russia maintains control and intimidates its citizens.
English: Arbitrary justice is a kind of evil. It seems chaotic or unplanned. But that’s the point. It keeps you guessing and keeps you nervous. And, it keeps everyone saying I better err on the side of caution. Even if three times out of four, nothing happens — that fourth time, it could be super extreme. I’ll lose my job, I’ll lose my freedom.
Today, the U.S. State Department warned U.S. citizens against traveling to Russia. Earlier this week, the State Department said it has not been granted consular access to Karelina, but that it will pursue the matter further.
For Annenberg Media, I’m Yana Savitsky.