Russian prosecution demands 15 years in prison for American woman
A trial is underway in Yekaterinburg against an American-Russian dual citizen for treason. The prosecution alleges that the young woman supported the Ukrainian military with the equivalent of $47. She could now face 15 years in prison in Russia.
Russian prosecutors are seeking a 15-year prison sentence for a Russian-American woman accused of treason, according to a state media report. Ksenia Khavana was arrested in Yekaterinburg in February. She was accused of collecting money for the Ukrainian military. In a closed-door trial on Wednesday, she reportedly pleaded guilty to the charges. News agency Interfax reports today that prosecutors have requested a 15-year prison sentence, citing Khavana's lawyer Mikhail Muskalov.
Khavana is from Yekaterinburg and reportedly became a U.S. citizen after marrying an American and moving to Los Angeles. She had come to Russia to visit family members. The FSB, Russia's domestic security agency, accuses her of collecting money for a Ukrainian organization that supplies the Ukrainian military with weapons, ammunition, and other materials.
An activist group says the charges against Khavana stem from a $51 (around $47) donation to a U.S. charity that supports Ukraine. Her friend reportedly confirmed the donation to a Ukrainian organization.
Russia has enacted laws since its deployment of troops to Ukraine in February 2022 that criminalize criticism of its actions there. Concerns have grown that Russia could target U.S. citizens for arrest.
Gershkovich also sentenced in Yekaterinburg
Muskalov says the verdict in Khavana's case is expected on August 15. Almost all criminal cases that go to trial in Russia result in a conviction. The same court in Yekaterinburg also handled the case of "Wall Street Journal" reporter Evan Gershkovich, who was arrested in March 2023 and sentenced to 16 years in prison in July for alleged spying. Gershkovich was later released in early August as part of the largest prisoner exchange between Russia and several Western countries since the Cold War. According to the U.S. government, the release was made possible by German Chancellor Olaf Scholz's approval of the release of convicted murderer Vadim Krasikov from German custody.
Low double-digit number of Germans in Russian prisons
Following the prisoner exchange, warnings have been raised that Russia could feel emboldened to make further arbitrary arrests of citizens of Western countries to use as bargaining chips. According to the German Foreign Office, there is still a "low double-digit number" of people with German citizenship in Russian prisons. "The Federal Foreign Office is aware of a low double-digit number of persons who are in detention in Russia and also possess German citizenship," the "Tagesspiegel" quoted the German Foreign Ministry.
UN experts have expressed concern over the fate of up to 1400 political prisoners still detained in Russia. They are "deeply concerned" that between 700 and 1372 political prisoners in Russia remain incarcerated "on fabricated or politically motivated charges," according to a joint statement by several independent UN experts. All activists, journalists, and war opponents convicted in sham trials must be "immediately" and "unconditionally" released.
The European Union has expressed concern over the trial of Ksenia Khavana in Russia, as she faces up to 15 years in prison for alleged support of the Ukrainian military. The European Union has called for Khavana's release, stating that her case could set a worrying precedent for Russian-Western relations.
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz played a significant role in securing the release of "Wall Street Journal" reporter Evan Gershkovich, who was also being tried in Yekaterinburg for alleged spying, and a convicted murderer from German custody. This exchange was part of the largest prisoner exchange between Russia and several Western countries since the Cold War.
