Ksenia Karelina
Ksenia Karelina, Sverdlovsk Oblast. Charges: Article 275, Russian Criminal Code (Treason against the state); “Ksenia Khavan's high treason case”. Sentence (August 15, 2024): 12 years' imprisonment in a general regime penal colony with a fine of 300 thousand roubles and a restriction of liberty… Status: not in Russia. Recognition: Memorial: Support for Political Prisoners — recognised as a political prisoner, August 16, 2024.
In brief
Sverdlovsk Oblast · Yekaterinburg · Service workers · Anti-war cases
Sentence
12 years
imprisonment in a general regime penal colony with a fine of 300 thousand roubles and a restriction of liberty for 1 year and 6 months
Upheld November 11, 2024
Charges
- Article 275, Russian Criminal Code — Treason against the state
Full wording of the charges
According to the investigation, "starting from February 2022, she proactively collected money in the interests of a Ukrainian organisation which was subsequently used to purchase tactical medicine items, equipment, means of defeat and ammunition for the AFU". According to the "Department One", the reason for the prosecution was the transfer of $51.8 to the account of the US-based charity foundation "Razom for Ukraine" on the first day of the war, 24 February 2022. Later, "Kommersant-Ural" media, citing a certain source, reported that other transfers were also involved in the case, but the defendant's lawyer said that only one episode was mentioned in the verdict.
Latest event
April 10, 2025 — imprisonment ends
Recognition by rights defenders
- Recognised as a political prisoner — Memorial: Support for Political Prisoners, August 16, 2024
Timeline
· Imprisonment ends
· Appeal ruling
upheld
· Recognised as a political prisoner
Memorial: Support for Political Prisoners
· First-instance verdict
guilty verdict · 12 years
· Preventive measure: pre-trial detention
Pre-trial Detention Centre №5 (SIZO-5) of the Federal Penitentiary Service of the Russian Federation for the Sverdlovsk Oblast
· Preventive measure: placement in a temporary detention facility
· Persecution begins
Ksenia Khavan's high treason case
Criminal case
Ksenia Khavan's high treason case
Thematic group: Anti-war case
Details and sources
Full summary
Cosmetologist. Lived in Yekaterinburg, emigrated to the USA. Detained on 27 January 2024, the day after she arrived in Ekaterinburg, where FSB officers apparently looked through the contents of her phone. The court arrested her for 14 days under the administrative article on disorderly conduct (Article 20.1 of the Code of Administrative Offences), with a report from the FSB officers included in the administrative case file. On 8 February, the court sent her to custody under the criminal case of high treason. The reason, as initially reported, was the transfer of $51 to a charitable foundation. Later "Kommersant-Ural", citing a certain source, reported that there were other transfers in the case file, but after the verdict the lawyer said that only one episode was mentioned in the text of the judgement. On 15 August 2024, Khavana was sentenced to 12 years in a general regime colony. On 10 April 2025, she was handed over to the US as part of a prisoner exchange.
All fields of the record
- Citizenship
- USA
Other people prosecuted under Article 275, Russian Criminal Code
Under the same article, not necessarily in the same case.