Russian-American national arrested for ‘treason’ in Russia

The young woman, who has not been identified, is said to have collected “funds for the benefit of a Ukrainian organization, which then used them to purchase tactical medical means, equipment, weapons and ammunition for the armed forces of the ‘Ukraine”.

A Russian-American national, resident of Los Angeles, was arrested in Yekaterinburg in Russia for “treason” by the security services (FSB), who accuse her of having raised funds for the Ukrainian army, relay the agencies Russians, Tuesday February 20.

“The Federal Security Service put an end to the illegal activities of a 33-year-old resident of Los Angeles, holder of Russian and American citizenship, in Yekaterinburg”the FSB told Russian media.

The young woman, who has not been identified, is said to have collected, since the start of the Russian assault against Ukraine on February 24, 2022, “funds for the benefit of a Ukrainian organization, which then used them to purchase tactical medical means, equipment, weapons and ammunition for the armed forces of Ukraine”.

Several American nationals detained in Russia

A video, broadcast by the state agency Ria Novosti, shows a young woman, in a white down jacket and a white cap pulled down over her eyes, being handcuffed by a hooded FSB agent.

Several American nationals are detained in Russia, including journalist Evan Gershkovich, arrested almost a year ago for espionage, also in Yekaterinburg. He rejects these accusations, like those close to him, his employer, the Wall Street Journal, and the American government.

Vladimir Putin said he wanted to negotiate an exchange of prisoners, citing the case of a man, convicted of a sponsored assassination attributed to Russia, who is in prison in Germany.