Ksenia Karelina: Remember that name. She is the most recent American citizen to be thrown into Putin’s endless prison system for treason as a result of having at one time donated — while living in the United States — $50 to a humanitarian aid organization providing assistance to the victims of Vladimir Putin’s war in Ukraine.

The 33-year-old manager of a Los Angeles spa emigrated to the United States about ten years ago, and obtained her U.S. citizenship in 2021. She thus holds dual U.S./Russian citizenship, which — under Russian law — still subjects her to treatment there as a Russian citizen. She was arrested while visiting her family in Yekaterinburg.

But how did the Russian security forces even know about her little donation on behalf of Ukraine? The answer to that is terrifying. According to the Russian lawyers’ group known as Perviy Otdel (“First Department”), “such donations could be tracked by bank records that could easily be recovered from a person’s phone during a border crossing or other checks by authorities. . . . We recommend deleting the history of money transfers to foreign accounts from banking applications, including foreign banks.” [Jaweed Kaleem, Sabra Ayres and Laura King, Los Angeles Times, Feb. 20, 2024.]

Make no mistake: Big Brother is alive and well and living in Russia . . .

White House spokesman John Kirby stated on Tuesday, February 20th:

“I want to reiterate our very strong warnings about the danger posed to U.S. citizens inside Russia. So if you’re a U.S. citizen, including a dual national residing in or traveling in Russia, you ought to leave right now.”

Excellent advice. And I would add to that: If you’re planning a trip to Russia — or even one of those wonderful Baltic cruises that offer an overnight stay in port at St. Petersburg — CANCEL. Do it now. Do not wait. Get your money back if you can . . . or even if you can’t. Your life is more important than any amount of money.

Not just sayin’ . . .

Brendochka
2/23/24