“We are all in shock”: beautician risks life in prison in Russia because she donated 48 euros to Ukrainian aid organization | War Ukraine and Russia

Karelina had to appear in handcuffs in court yesterday. Images on social media show the intimidating approach: a white cap over her eyes obstructed her view, while a masked security officer guided her through the building.

Karelina was born in Russia, but also acquired American nationality in 2021. Today she works in the beauty salon of the Beverly Hills hotel in Los Angeles.

When the woman flew to Yekaterinburg last month to visit her parents and younger sister, things quickly went wrong. “She used coarse, obscene language in the presence of other citizens and behaved rudely,” the complaint says. She is also said to have “strongly resisted her arrest”. Karelina was sentenced to fourteen days in prison for those dubious facts.

But it didn’t stop there. Russian authorities also discovered that she had deposited $51.80 into Razom’s account. “The Ukrainian army uses this to finance, among other things, weapons, ammunition and military equipment. These financial donations have been ongoing since February 2022,” the Russian Federal Security Service said. Treason in Russia carries prison sentences ranging from twelve years to life in prison.

In reality, Razom raises money to provide medical aid to Ukraine, among other things. This concerns, for example, ambulances, pressure bandages and other hospital equipment.

“We are all in shock,” Karelina’s former mother-in-law responded in an interview with ‘The New York Post’. “Ksenia would never hurt a fly, let alone commit criminal acts. We are very concerned, especially now that we see how supporters of Alexei Navalny are being tackled.”

“Her mother and father recently divorced, so she wanted to see her family again,” Eleonora Srebrosk continues. “In principle, she should have been home by now. I certainly wouldn’t be surprised if Ksenia had donated money to Ukraine. She always stands up for the weak. My son Evgeny and I are ready to help her.”

Karelina first set foot on American soil in 2012. A year later she tied the knot with Evgeny, but the relationship did not last too long.

Her employer Isabella Koretz knows more about the circumstances in which Karelina was locked up. “She was interrogated for thirteen hours and was thrown into an ice-cold cell with two other women. Can you imagine that? She is a beautician, not a politician. In her spare time she enjoys ballet.”

Koretz saw her good friend leave with a heavy heart. “She asked me if she could take two weeks off. I warned her that I didn’t think it was a good idea to travel to Russia. I didn’t think it was safe enough, but she really insisted on visiting her family.”

Communication with Karelina is via email, the content is always proofread. “In her last message she asked if I wanted to sell her car. She has no idea when she can return. We have already spent $10,000 (9,250 euros) on legal fees, but that hasn’t yielded much yet.”

“We are in contact with the American embassy, ​​but they subtly announced that an exchange is not possible. She is of course not a famous basketball player (a reference to the American Brittney Griner, who was exchanged for the Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout; ed.). If Navalny had not died, we probably wouldn’t have even heard from her.”

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