Ballerina Behind Bars: LA Dancer Arrested for 'High Treason' in Russia

A Los Angeles dual-national has been arrested and detained by the Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) on suspicion of treason.

According to the Russian state-run TASS news agency, the woman in her 30s - allegedly identified by the Daily Mail as Ksenia Karelina, a US citizen and ballerina of Russian descent - was arrested in Yekaterinburg on Tuesday (Feb. 20) on suspicion of providing Ukraine with "financial assistance."

"The Federal Security Service in Yekaterinburg suppressed the illegal activities of a 33-year-old resident of Los Angeles, who has dual citizenship of Russia and the United States, who was involved in providing financial assistance to a foreign state in activities directed against the security of our country," the FSB said in a statement.

The FSB added that Karelina allegedly "proactively collected money in the interests of one of the Ukrainian organizations," which Russian officials believed was used to procure the needs of the Ukrainian military. She was also repeatedly participating in rallies in the US supporting Ukraine.

Reporters have requested the US State Department for comment.

Aside from Karelina, the Kremlin still holds Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich, who was also arrested in Yekaterinburg, and former Marine and computer security official Paul Whelan.

The charge of high treason in Russia carries a jail term of between 12 and 20 years. The treason definition includes espionage, the issuance of state secrets to a foreign state or organization, and the provision of financial, logistical, consulting or other assistance, should the activities be directed against the security of Russia.

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Us, California, Los Angeles, Ballet, Dance, Russia