US-Russian citizen sentenced to 12 years for $52 donation to Ukrainian charity

A Russian court on Thursday sentenced US-Russian dual national Ksenia Karelina to 12 years in prison on charges of “treason” for wiring a $51.80 donation to a charity supporting Ukraine. Criticising the verdict as “nothing less than just a vindictive cruelty”, US National Security Council spokesman John Kirby told reporters the charges were “absolutely ludicrous”.