California Woman Arrested on Suspicion of Treason in Russia

A Los Angeles resident with Russian and U.S. citizenship has been arrested in Russia on suspicion of treason, Russian state-run media reported on Tuesday.

The woman, 33, who hasn't been named, was arrested in Yekaterinburg by Russia's Federal Security Service (FSB) on suspicion of providing Ukraine with "financial assistance," the security service told the state-run Tass news agency.

The Context

The charge of high treason in Russia carries a jail term of between 12 and 20 years. The treason definition includes espionage, the issuance of state secrets to a foreign state or organization, and the provision of financial, logistical, consulting or other assistance, should the activities be directed against the security of Russia.

What We Know

"The Federal Security Service in Yekaterinburg suppressed the illegal activities of a 33-year-old resident of Los Angeles, who has dual citizenship of Russia and the United States, who was involved in providing financial assistance to a foreign state in activities directed against the security of our country," the FSB said.

Newsweek has contacted the U.S. State Department for comment by email.

According to the Russian intelligence service, "since February 2022, she proactively collected money in the interests of one of the Ukrainian organizations, which was subsequently used to purchase tactical medicine items, equipment, weapons and ammunition for the Armed Forces of Ukraine."

The FSB also accused the woman of repeatedly participating in rallies in support of Ukraine while in the United States.

Russian President Vladimir Putin launched his full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.

Views

A number of U.S. citizens are currently detained in Russia, including The Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich and former Marine and computer security official Paul Whelan.

"Russia has jailed another American," wrote Max Seddon, Moscow bureau chief for the Financial Times, in a post on X, formerly Twitter.

"The FSB said it charged this unnamed Russia-US dual citizen, 33, with treason for organizing fundraisers for the Ukrainian army. She was arrested in Ekaterinburg – the same city where the FSB arrested Evan Gershkovich last year," added Seddon.

What's Next?

Russia's state-run news agencies have published a video showing the moment FSB officers detained the woman to bring her into custody.

It showed the handcuffed 33-year-old wearing a white coat with a white hat pulled down over her eyes.

She is now in a pre-trial detention center.

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