Posted 2/22/2024, 11:17:07 AM
LA Ballerina Detained in Russia on Suspicion of Raising Funds for Ukraine
- Ksenia Karelina, a 33-year-old LA ballerina and esthetician, was detained in Russia on suspicion of treason for allegedly raising funds to support Ukraine's army
- Her boyfriend says she was visiting her aging grandmother in Russia when detained at the airport and her phone confiscated
- Russian authorities allege she collected funds since Feb 2022 for a Ukrainian organization that were used to buy medical supplies, equipment, weapons for Ukraine
- Karelina had been working as an esthetician in LA for 8 years after studying in the US and becoming a citizen in 2021
- Her detention follows a trend of Russia detaining foreign citizens, though cases still remain isolated, with uncertainty around why some like Karelina are targeted