According to the Russian news agency Interfax, Karelina’s lawyer Mikhail Mushailov said he wanted to appeal the verdict. He also contradicted the court’s statement that his client had fully admitted guilt. Rather, she only admitted to having transferred money without being aware of the anti-Russian purpose.
The domestic secret service FSB reported the arrest of the then 33-year-old in February, but presented no evidence. According to the FSB statement, the money was used to buy medical items, equipment and ammunition. In the USA, the woman took part in several “public actions in support of the Kiev regime,” it said.
US citizens were last released in prisoner exchange
Russia is repeatedly criticized in the USA for deliberately persecuting and arresting its citizens in order to then exchange them for prisoners. Kremlin critics accuse the Moscow power apparatus of “hostage-taking” – with the aim of extorting the release of Russian prisoners abroad. Moscow, in turn, accuses Washington of arresting Russians all over the world and having them extradited to the USA, who are then also used as bargaining chips for an exchange.
On August 1, Kremlin chief Vladimir Putin released imprisoned Russian criminals in the USA by exchanging them for Americans, including the journalist Evan Gershkovich, who had been convicted of espionage. In the course of a prisoner exchange involving seven countries, including Germany, the so-called Tiergarten murderer, who had been convicted in Berlin, was also released.
Just on Wednesday, Russian security authorities arrested a US citizen in Moscow on suspicion of using violence against a policewoman. He was initially sentenced to 15 days in custody for hooliganism. In another case, his prison sentence was extended until October 14 for using violence against a representative of the state apparatus.
Courts in Russia repeatedly impose long prison sentences on US citizens, some of whom have the prospect of being released in a prisoner exchange.Photo: Uncredited/dpa
Courts in Russia repeatedly impose long prison sentences on US citizens, some of whom have the prospect of being released in a prisoner exchange. (Archive photo)Photo: Dmitri Lovetsky/dpa
