Russian-American ballerina Ksenia Karelina has pleaded guilty to treason charges after she was arrested for donating money to a charity supporting Ukraine.

Russian prosecutors are seeking a 15-year sentence after the security services accused Ms Karelina of collecting money that was used to purchase tactical supplies for the Ukrainian army.

She was detained by authorities in Yekaterinburg, about 1,600km (1,000 miles) east of Moscow after a family visit in February.

The sentence comes one week after Russia and the West carried out the largest prisoner exchange since the Cold War, where 24 people jailed in seven different countries were exchanged.

Ms Karelina’s lawyer said the prosecutors’ request for a 15-year sentence in a penal colony was too severe as the defendant had cooperated with the investigation.

Mikhail Mushailov also said it was “impossible” for Ms Karelina to have been included in the recent prisoner exchange, because an exchange can only happen once the court verdict comes into force.

  • rhabarba
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    3 months ago

    you are not condemning Russia’s invasion or maybe even apologise it,

    Wrong. Everything else is moot to explain by now. You seem to be trying to push me into a corner where I don’t belong. This conversation is over.

    edit: To give you a chance to calm down a bit, I’ve temporarily put you on the block list. Have a nice Sunday.

    • Quittenbrot
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      3 months ago

      The conversation is indeed over. Just not for the reasons you state here. As I pointed out you contradicted yourself and now try to deal with it in a “face-saving” manner. Block me if it helps you, I made my point. Bye.