Russia sentences American ballerina
Boyfriend speaks out after American novice ballerina sentenced in Russia on treason fees
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Russian-American Ksenia Karelina used to be sentenced via a Russian court docket to twelve years in a penal colony on Thursday after pleading to blame to treason previous this month. She used to be arrested previous this yr whilst on a shuttle to Russia for donating $51 to an American-based humanitarian staff serving to Ukrainians struggling within the battle, consistent with Russian state media.Karelina’s legal professional, Mikhail Mushailov, stated in a while after the sentence used to be passed down that Karelina would enchantment.”She admitted guilt with regards to shifting budget, however didn’t admit her intent aimed toward shifting budget to these organizations the place they perhaps arrived,” Mushailov stated. “She didn’t think that the budget she transferred can be used for anti-Russian movements.”
Russia accused Karelina of amassing cash used to buy provides for the Ukrainian military. She used to be detained in January when she used to be given a airplane price ticket as a present via her boyfriend to fly again to peer her oldsters and more youthful sister within the japanese town of Yekaterinburg, consistent with her former partner’s mother, Eleonora Srebroski. Karelina used to be first of all detained via Russia’s Federal Safety Provider for “petty hooliganism,” however the price used to be later upgraded to treason.
The court docket on Thursday stated the sentence would come into impact in 15 days “until appealed via the events.”Forward of the sentencing, Karelina’s legal professional known as the prosecutor’s previous request for a 15-year sentence “harsh” and stated he would “take all legally vital movements” to take a look at to have his shopper integrated in a long run prisoner trade. He stated Karelina totally cooperated with the investigation.On Thursday, Mushailov stated he plans to accomplish “all legally vital movements to begin the trade process and end it once conceivable.”Karelina’s trial used to be overseen via the similar pass judgement on who noticed Wall Boulevard Magazine reporter Evan Gershkovich sentenced to 16 years in jail. Gershkovich used to be freed as a part of a prisoner switch previous this month.
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Haley Ott
Haley Ott is the CBS Information Virtual world reporter, founded within the CBS Information London bureau.