JAIL HELL
US ballerina Ksenia Karelina facing 15 years in Russian jail pushes for prisoner swap after Evan Gershkovich’s release
Her lawyer said the swap was currently impossible
US ballerina Ksenia Karelina is hoping for a prisoner swap as she faces 15 years in a Russian jail over a $50 donation to a Ukranian charity in 2022.
Russian-American Karelina, 33, has urged her lawyer to apply for a prisoner exchange following the release of Wall Street Journal journalist Evan Gershkovich, 32, who was wrongfully held for 491 days in Russian captivity.
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Ballerina and aesthetician Karelina was visiting family in Russia in January when she was detained.
The Russian government learned Karelina donated around $50, or £39, to Razom, a charity that supports Ukraine, in 2022.
Russia viewed the charity as helping the Ukrainian military and vowed to arrest anyone for treason if they contributed.
After months in jail, Karelina agreed this week to plead guilty to treason and now prosecutors are requesting a 15-year prison sentence.
Karelina's lawyer, Mikhail Mushailov, found the sentence excessive because she's been cooperating with the investigation, per the .
Speaking about a possible prisoner exchange, Mushailov said it was "impossible" for the ballerina to have been included in the same exchange as Evan because a swap is only possible once the court has a verdict.
"After the verdict, of course, we will work in this direction," Mushailov said, per .
"This is the desire of the client, so I will take all legally significant actions to ensure that this is implemented."
Most read in The US Sun
Karelina became a United States citizen in 2021 and had been living in Los Angeles, California before her arrest.
She pleaded guilty on Thursday and made a closing plea to the judge, Andrey Mineev, 56, in a closed-door hearing at Sverdlovsk Regional Court, Yekaterinburg, Russia — 24 hours east of Moscow.
FSB published video of the US citizens being readied for the swap
Her case is being handled by the same judge who sentenced Evan to 16 years on bogus charges.
'APPALLED'
Charity organization Razom said it was "appalled" to learn about Karelina's arrest.
The ballerina's boyfriend, Chris Van Heerden, told the BBC when she was detained that she was proud to be Russian.
He'd bought her a plane ticket to see her parents and little sister in Russia as a gift and she told him at the time that the trip would be safe.
Van Heerden, a professional boxer from South Africa, has been campaigning for the US to help free Karelina.
She is being held in Yekaterinburg, the same city Evan was held in for his sentencing.
Timeline of Evan Gershkovich's detainment
FALSELY jailed Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich was detained on baseless accusations of espionage in March 2023.
Here is a timeline of key events:
Russia's security service, the FSB, charged him with espionage - a charge that he, the WSJ, and the US government deny.
They argued - without evidence - that he collected “information constituting a state secret about the activities of one of the enterprises of the Russian military-industrial complex.”
Day 12: April 10, 2023 - The US designated Gershkovich wrongfully detained and launched an effort on Russia to free him.
Day 20: April 18, 2023 - A Moscow court upheld his pre-trial detention, denied him bail, and ordered him to be held in the capital's infamous Lefortovo prison.
Day 55: May 23, 2023 - Gershkovich's detention was extended until at least August 30.
His parents, Ella Milman and Mikhail Gershkovich, traveled to the hearing and said "Any parent who loves their kid would travel to the end of the world to be with them for five minutes."
Day 76: June 13, 2023 - The White House called on Russia to immediately free Gershkovich and also free former US marine Paul Whelan, who was convicted of espionage in 2020.
Day 85: June 22, 2023 - A Moscow court upheld the extension of Gershkovich's detention until at least August 30.
Day 100: July 7, 2023 - The world's press stood in solidarity with the reporter as his shameful detention reached 100 days.
Day 174: September 19, 2023 - Gershkovich had another appeal for freedom blocked.
Day 195: October 10, 2023 - The US reporter had yet another appeal denied which would see his detention extended until at least November 30.
Day 244: November 28, 2023 - A court ruled Gershkovich would remain in pre-trial detention until at least January 30.
Day 303: January 26, 2024 - The innocent journalist's time behind bars was extended until the end of March.
Day 316: February 8, 2024 - Vladimir Putin tells US TV host Tucker Carlson a deal could be reached between Russia and the US over Gershkovich.
Day 363: March 26, 2024: Gershkovich's detention will drag on until June 30 as he nears one year behind bars.
Day 442: June 13, 2024: Russian authorities announce he will stand trial over bogus accusations that the reporter was spying for the CIA
Day 455: June 26, 2024: Closed-door sham trial begins in Yekaterinburg at the Sverdlovsk courthouse with Evan appearing inside a glass cage
Day 478: July 19, 2024: Evan is sentenced to 16 years in Russian prison
Day 491: August 1, 2024: Evan is released as part of a historic prisoner exchange deal between Russia and the West
HISTORIC SWAP
On August 1, Evan came home after being held by the Russian government for 491 days.
Evan was wrongfully detained in March 2023 while working as a journalist in the Ural Mountains city of Yekaterinburg.
Russian President Vladimir Putin accused him of spying for the US and he was convicted during a sham trial last month.
He faced up to 16 years in a Russian prison.
But the journalist finally journeyed home with two other Americans unfairly held in Russia as part of a prisoner swap this month.
Russian-American editor for Radio Free Europe, Alsu Kurmasheva, 47, and former US Marine Paul Whelan, 54, accompanied Evan in his release from Russian custody.
Alsu was arrested last year and Paul was detained in 2018.
Both President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris met the group as they walked off the plane in the US.
Supporters and family members also crowded the tarmac applauding their arrival.
Biden spoke to reporters as the three Americans exchanged tear-filled hugs with their families.
"There's nothing beyond our capacity when we act together," he said.
"To me, this is about, this is who we are as a country. It's about being able to have access to the people you love and adore."
When asked if he had a message for Putin, Biden said simply, "Stop."
Their return was only possible due to a prisoner swap that involved seven countries with Turkey as the main negotiator.
READ MORE SUN STORIES
The swap involved 24 other prisoners from at least six countries.
It was one of the largest and most complex exchanges between the West and Russia since the Cold War.
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