How Russia's FSB agents first arrested ballerina Ksenia Karelina for swearing before upgrading charges to high treason after rifling through her phone to see she had transferred $51 to Ukrainian charity raising funds for medical supplies

• Karelina, 32, appeared in a Russian court this week to answer to dubious treason charges after Putin’s secret police, the FSB, found that in February 2022, the ballerina donated $51.80 to a Ukrainian charity 

US citizen Ksenia Karelina was first detained when she arrived in Russia, the country of her birth, in January and then subsequently had her cellphone taken away from her by authorities, her boyfriend has revealed.

Karelina, 32, appeared in a Russian court this week to answer to dubious treason charges after Putin’s secret police, the FSB, found that in February 2022, the ballerina donated $51.80 to a Ukrainian charity.

Two years later, Karelina, who holds both a Russian and a US passport, was arrested by police on petty hooliganism charges outside of a movie theater in Yekaterinburg, the same city where Evan Gershkovich was arrested 12 months ago.

In a heartbreaking interview with CNN, her boyfriend, professional boxer Chris Van Heerden, said that he last spoke to Karelina on January 27. The pair spoke via her mother’s cellphone. Karelina is a dual Russian and US citizen.

Karelina explained to Van Heerden that she was going to collect her phone that night and would fly home to him in Los Angeles two days later as planned. Because of the time difference, he was going to bed and said he would speak to her the following day.

Chris Van Heerden said in a series of interviews that he and Karelina have been ‘basically living together’ for the past six months

Karelina was arrested in Russia on petty hooliganism charges that were later upgraded to treason

US officials say that Karelina’s case is complicated because as a dual citizen, she’s Russian first in the eyes of the country’s legal system

At some point, Karelina was arrested on the hooliganism charges, thought to be related to public swearing, and while in custody saw her charges upgraded to treason.

In an emotional interview with CNN that aired Thursday night, Van Heerden said that Karelina ‘had no fear’ of going home to visit her aged grandmother saying that she is ‘so proud of Russia.’

‘She did not have a worry in the world,’ he went on.  The boxer said that he paid for his partner to travel to Russia because she was feeling homesick and wanted to see her family.

The two traveled to Istanbul together where they had a vacation just after Christmas before she went on Russia as he returned to the US.

Despite Russian claims that Karelina was raising money for the Ukranian military, Van Heerden said he never heard her speak about Putin’s invasion. ‘She doesn’t watch the news, she doesn’t intervene with anything.’

During his interview, Van Heerden reiterated that a lawyer who is willing to take the case was charging ‘an insane amount of money.’

‘I believe in America. I do believe that America will bring her back to me and that’s the hope I’m holding on to,’ the boxer went on.

Karelina received US citizenship after marrying an American.

At the time of her arrest, Karelina was working as a skin care therapist at a swanky Beverly Hills day spa.

In an emotional interview with CNN that aired Thursday night, Van Heerden said that Karelina ‘had no fear’ of going home to visit her aged grandmother saying that she is ‘so proud of Russia’

Van Heerden was a star in boxing in his homeland before relocating to the US in 2013 where his success was more mixed. At the time, Van Heerden was signed to Evander Holyfield’s Real Deal promotions.

His most recent fight saw him knocked out in the second round by Conor Benn in April 2022.

His career record is 33 fights, 28 wins and three losses.

Speaking about their trip to Turkey prior to her arrest, Van Heerden described it as ‘magical.’

‘She had not a worry in the world. She had no idea what was waiting for her,’ he said.

Van Heerden said that he’s not a typical tough-guy boxer. ‘Yeah, I’m a tough guy when I step in the ring. But honestly I’m more of a romantic. It’s hard to enjoy anything right now, knowing I have freedom and she doesn’t.’

Isabella Koretz, owner of Ciel Spa at the SLS Beverly Hills where Karelina has worked for eight years, said that Karelina, a ballet dancer, came to the U.S. to study at the University of Maryland in Baltimore before relocating to Los Angeles.

She said Karelina is divorced and does not have any relatives in the U.S. Koretz said she has grown close to Karelina over the years and treats her like ‘she´s family.’

On her Facebook page, Karelina says that she’s from Yekaterinburg and that she studied ballet at the S. P. Diaghilev school

Karelina moved to the US after graduating from college in her homeland in 2013

According to Koretz, Karelina tried to see her family in Russia at least once a year, usually around Christmas and New Year’s.

White House national security spokesman John Kirby said the White House and the State Department were aware of reports of the arrest of a dual U.S.-Russia citizen and added that ‘we are trying to get more information and to secure some consular access to that individual.’

Kirby refrained from further comment due to respect for privacy, but reiterated ‘our very strong warnings about the danger posed to U.S. citizens inside Russia.’

He added: ‘If you’re a U.S. citizen, including a dual national residing in or traveling in Russia, you ought to leave right now.’

Miller noted that when it comes to dual citizens of the United States and Russia, Moscow ‘does not recognize dual citizenship, it considers them to be Russian citizens first and foremost,’ giving US diplomats a difficult time to get consular assistance.

Some analysts have noted that Moscow may be using jailed Americans as bargaining chips after U.S.-Russian tensions soared when Russia sent troops into Ukraine. At least two U.S. citizens arrested in Russia in recent years, including WNBA star Brittney Griner, have been exchanged for Russians jailed in the US.

Earlier this week, Karelina’s one-time husband, Evgeny Khavana exclusively revealed to DailyMail.com that his own family are living in fear and cannot speak freely because they believe they are being ‘listened to’ by Russian authorities.

He said, ‘We cannot speak, my family cannot say anything. We are being listened to.’

Her mother-in-law, Eleanora Sreboski told DailyMail.com that Ksenia would spend the rest of her life in a Russian prison if America didn’t intervene.

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