US-Russian Dual Citizen Arrested for Allegedly Funding Ukrainian Organizations
In a recent development, a 33-year-old US-Russian dual citizen residing in Los Angeles has been apprehended in Yekaterinburg, Russia, on charges of treason. The Federal Security Service (FSB) of Russia accuses the woman of actively collecting funds to support Ukrainian organizations engaged in activities against Russian security.
According to the FSB’s statement released on Tuesday, the detained individual has been accused of channeling funds to a Ukrainian organization since February 2022. The funds allegedly facilitated the purchase of tactical medicine, equipment, weapons, and ammunition for the Ukrainian Armed Forces. The FSB also claims that the woman participated in public actions supporting the Kyiv regime while residing in the United States.
Operational search activities and investigative actions are ongoing, and the court has ordered the accused’s detention as a preventive measure. CNN has reached out to the US Embassy in Moscow and the US State Department for comments on the situation.
This arrest follows a pattern of Russia detaining US citizens in recent years. Last year, American journalist Evan Gershkovich, a Wall Street Journal reporter, was arrested on espionage charges in Yekaterinburg. The Moscow City Court has upheld Gershkovich’s pretrial detention until March 30, despite his and the US government’s denial of the espionage allegations.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has hinted at the possibility of an agreement with the US to exchange Gershkovich for Vadim Krasikov, a Russian serving a life sentence in Germany for a 2019 murder in Berlin. Putin expressed openness to resolving the issue through intelligence service channels.
This incident follows the December 2022 release of WNBA star Brittney Griner in a prisoner swap involving Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout. Griner had been detained on drug smuggling charges at a Moscow region airport in February of that year.
Notably, former US Marine Paul Whelan, convicted on espionage charges in June 2020, continues to serve a 16-year prison sentence in Russia, maintaining his innocence. The situation highlights the complex and ongoing diplomatic challenges between the United States and Russia.