U.S.-Russian Dual National Sentenced to 12 Years for Treason in Russia

U.S.-Russian Dual National Sentenced to 12 Years for Treason

Ksenia Khavana, a dual citizen of the United States and Russia, has been handed a 12-year prison sentence in Russia for charges of treason, stemming from her alleged financial contributions to the Ukrainian military. The Russian authorities claim that Khavana raised funds for a U.S.-based charity which ultimately supported Ukrainian forces.

According to Russia’s Federal Security Service, Khavana “proactively collected money in the interests of one of the Ukrainian organizations, which was subsequently utilized to procure tactical medical supplies, equipment, weapons, and ammunition for the Ukrainian Armed Forces.” This alarming allegation underscores the severe repercussions individuals can face for perceived support of Ukraine amidst the ongoing conflict.

Previously a ballet dancer, Khavana gained U.S. citizenship after marrying her American husband and relocating to Los Angeles. However, her visit to Russia to see family led to her arrest in Yekaterinburg, where she was later put on trial. In a closed court session, she pleaded guilty to the charges, as reported by Russian state media. Her attorney, Mikhail Mushailov, indicated that while Khavana admitted to transferring the funds, she was unaware that her contributions would be directed toward “anti-Russian actions.” He has announced intentions to appeal the verdict.

Since her arrest in February, Khavana has been held in a Russian jail, and her partner, Chris Van Heerden, has been an outspoken advocate for her release. He expressed his initial concerns about her safety, given the heightened tensions surrounding the war in Ukraine, yet she assured him that her Russian nationality would protect her. “I thought it might be dangerous for her to go, with everything going on with the war in Ukraine, but she reassured me that she was Russian and that everything would be fine,” he shared with a Los Angeles newspaper.

The Russian government has enacted stringent laws that criminalize any criticism of its military actions in Ukraine, as well as statements deemed to discredit the Russian armed forces, particularly since the full-scale invasion commenced in February 2022. Khavana’s sentencing comes on the heels of a significant prisoner exchange between Moscow and Washington, marking the largest such swap since the Cold War. This exchange included Evan Gershkovich, a journalist for the Wall Street Journal, who was convicted of espionage in March 2023.