Russian-American ballerina Ksenia Karelina has pleaded guilty to treason charges after she was arrested for donating money to a charity supporting Ukraine.

Russian prosecutors are seeking a 15-year sentence after the security services accused Ms Karelina of collecting money that was used to purchase tactical supplies for the Ukrainian army.

She was detained by authorities in Yekaterinburg, about 1,600km (1,000 miles) east of Moscow after a family visit in February.

The sentence comes one week after Russia and the West carried out the largest prisoner exchange since the Cold War, where 24 people jailed in seven different countries were exchanged.

Ms Karelina’s lawyer said the prosecutors’ request for a 15-year sentence in a penal colony was too severe as the defendant had cooperated with the investigation.

Mikhail Mushailov also said it was “impossible” for Ms Karelina to have been included in the recent prisoner exchange, because an exchange can only happen once the court verdict comes into force.

        • Richie Rich@lemmy.world
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          4 months ago

          They already cannot properly equip their military and are wasting their soldiers at the front. What are they supposed to fight with?

          • federal reverse@feddit.orgM
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            4 months ago

            Russia has been able to procure a somewhat surprising amount of foreign resources: African/Indian soldiers, Iranian drones, assorted Chinese weaponry. (Although sure, they do need to pay up for those eventually.)

            • NastyNative@mander.xyz
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              4 months ago

              Recently the russians have been making progress on the western frontline of ukraine more than ever. I see Ukraine’s break through in the north as a sign they are afraid of a Trump presidency. Ukraine needs russian land as a bargaining tool if they are forced to stop the war.

    • federal reverse@feddit.orgM
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      4 months ago

      I cleared a report against this comment.

      I still think it’s a bad take, especially concerning NATO randomly not wanting to end war. However, I don’t think the comment violated any guidelines

        • federal reverse@feddit.orgM
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          4 months ago

          It’s a hypothetical, imo. NATO could enter the war in full force and it could spin out into WWIII. Alternatively it could (and I don’t find that likely at all) mean that Putin throws in the towel quickly.

        • refalo
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          4 months ago

          rules are subjective because they require interpretation. your definition might not be the same as the mods but only theirs carries weight wrt enforcement.

    • YeetPics@mander.xyz
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      4 months ago

      That takes an insane amount of idiocy to use trackable money attached to your passport to donate to the opposite side of the war. And it takes an insane amount of idiocy to think that you should donate in the first place. Donating refugees? Sure, they need help. Donating to people who will only make the war last longer but not solve the cause? Why? NATO can stop the war any day, but they don’t want to. And until NATO says “stop” no amount of money will save Ukraine, Russia has resources to continue this for years more, Ukraine doesn’t have those resources and 99% relies on Europe support, or they would cease to exist already. balls to sentence someone to life for a fucking donation.

      Get fucked Putin, we will all dance/piss on your grave.