Russia’s FSB security services announced the arrest of a woman with dual U.S.-Russian nationality on suspicion of treason. The 33-year-old woman, a resident of Los Angeles, was accused of raising funds for the Ukrainian army.
The FSB, based in Yekaterinburg, stated that she had actively collected funds used to purchase medical items, equipment, means of destruction, and ammunition for the Ukrainian armed forces. The arrest comes just days before the two-year anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
The FSB asserted that the woman had been acting against the security of Russia and supporting the Ukrainian army while in the United States. Treason in Russia carries severe penalties, including up to life imprisonment.
Arrest of U.S.-Russian Woman (Credits: CBS News)
President Biden has been urging U.S. lawmakers to approve additional funding for Ukraine to aid in its defense against Russian aggression. The arrest adds to the strained diplomatic relations between the two countries.
Several U.S. nationals are already imprisoned in Russia, with accusations ranging from espionage to failure to register as a “foreign agent.”
Russian President Vladimir Putin has expressed interest in negotiating a prisoner exchange, swapping Russians imprisoned abroad for U.S. citizens detained in Russia. Such exchanges have occurred in the past, contributing to the complexity of diplomatic relations between the two nations.
