- A Russian court sentenced US-Russian dual national Ksenia Khavana to 12 years in prison for treason.
- Khavana was arrested in Yekaterinburg, Russia, for donating $51 to a Ukraine-supporting charity.
A Russian court on Thursday sentenced US-Russian citizen Ksenia Khavana to 12 years in jail for treason.
Her crime was donating $51 to a charity supporting Ukraine.
According to multiple news reports, the 33-year-old amateur ballerina pleaded guilty in a closed-door trial last week after her arrest in Yekaterinburg, Russia, in February.
Khavana — identified by Russian authorities by her maiden name of Karelina — had reportedly been visiting family in Yekaterinburg when she was detained in January.
According to the Associated Press, not long before her planned departure, she was charged with treason and jailed for 15 days for petty hooliganism.
Russia's Federal Security Service said she "proactively collected money in the interests of one of the Ukrainian organizations, which was subsequently used to purchase tactical medical supplies, equipment, weapons, and ammunition for the Ukrainian armed forces."
In a press briefing on August 15, White House National Security Communications Advisor John Kirby called it "nothing less than vindictive cruelty" from the Russians.
"The sentence just proves all the more that there's no real system of justice coming out of Moscow," said Kirby.
"We're talking about 50 bucks to try to alleviate the suffering of the people of Ukraine. And to call that treason is just absolutely ludicrous."
The charity — which legal rights group Perviy Otdel identified as the New York-based Razom for Ukraine — says on its website that its goal is to "unlock the potential of Ukraine".
It also says its mission is to initiate "short and long-term projects, or collaborate on existing projects with partner organizations, which help Ukraine stay on the path of fostering democracy and prosperity."
The AP said Khavana pleaded guilty in her trial, which was held in the same court as recently freed Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich. According to the BBC, her case was also heard by the same judge.
Gershkovich was released as part of a major prisoner swap between Russia, the US, and other Western countries. Khavana's partner told CBS News that he had been campaigning for her to be included on the prisoner swap list.
Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a decree last year that officially increased the maximum jail term for treason from 20 years to life.
Russian authorities and Razom for Ukraine did not immediately respond to Business Insider's request for comment.