Ukraine war: Russia detains US-Russian woman on treason charge

The unnamed woman, from Los Angeles, was raising funds for a Ukrainian organisation whose ultimate beneficiary was Kyiv's armed forces, Russia's Federal Security Service (FSB) said.

She was also accused of attending pro-Ukraine rallies in the US.

The 33-year-old was detained in the city of Yekaterinburg.

The FSB said the woman had been collecting money for the Ukrainian organisation since February 2022, when Russia first launched its full-scale military operation in the country.

It said the funds were subsequently used to purchase medical supplies, equipment, weapons and ammunition for the Ukrainian army.

Footage shared by Russian state-owned news agency RIA Novosti showed the woman, whose face was obscured by a hat and blurred out, being escorted by a uniformed officer.

She was seen being handcuffed and placed into a car, before being led into what appeared to be a holding cell in a courtroom, from which she was eventually led out.

The FSB said the woman had been acting "against the security of our country" and was supporting the Ukrainian army while in the US.

In April last year, Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a decree increasing the maximum sentence for treason to life in jail, up from 20 years, as part of a crackdown on dissent.

The FSB said the woman was detained in Yekaterinburg, about 1,600km (1,000 miles) east of Moscow - the same city in which US journalist Evan Gershkovich was arrested on charges of espionage on 29 March last year.

Mr Gershkovich, an experienced Russia reporter, had been working for the Wall Street Journal at the time.

In January, Russia extended his pre-trial detention again, until the end of March. His appeal against the extension was rejected on Tuesday.

He faces up to 20 years in prison if found guilty.

The US government has designated the reporter as being "wrongfully detained".

Last week, Mr Putin said during an interview with US host Tucker Carlson that he believed a deal could be reached to free Mr Gershkovich.

Several other US nationals are currently imprisoned in Russia, including former US marine Paul Whelan, who has been in prison in Russia since 2018. He is serving a 16-year sentence on spying charges.

-bbc