A Russian citizen living in America who supported Ukraine by donating money to them was warned by her partner that going back wouldn’t be safe. She said “nah, it’ll be fine” and was arrested shortly after in Russia.
This is very sad, but you didn’t know they’d be mad about that?
Yeah my sympathy to her and her loved ones, but we shouldn't give a single thing in exchange to get her back. Every western country has their absolutely highest DO-NOT-TRAVEL-TO warning for russia. She had to actively work to get around every roadblock just to get there. Sorry, but we can't save you from yourself
Yeah, she at least needs to be a common women's basketball player for us to make lopsided exchanges.
That was also a stupid exchange. Brittney Gringer played the fuck around and find out game and she found out....
Then we released a war criminal to get her back??? That's not how we should be doing business. That's allowing Russia to bully us.
They gave into the vocal minority on social media. Most people thought it was an absolutely ridiculous trade off.
I'm sure there's another lord of war we can trade for her right?
This is true, it's amazing that anyone from the countries Russia has said to be "unfriendly" goes to Russia anymore.
I was born in the US to a Russian mother. She moved back to Russia when I was a toddler, and I lost contact with her in my adolescence. I have recently been determined to find her. I have not been able to make any progress on the internet, but I think I would have more success if I go in person and ask around her small town. I have been wanting to do this for the past 2 years. Yet, I'm not stupid enough to go to Russia right now even if it means that my mother may pass in the meantime. If I have a great reason to go and still don't, I don't know what's up with these people that think they'll be fine and go just to hang out. wtf.
I really hope you'll have enough time to meet her one day. I'm a Russian living in Germany (always have). I've made "peace" with the fact that I won't see my grandparents again. And only if we are very lucky, my daughter gets to meet her grandpa.
Every now and then, I meet other Russian moms on a playground or so. Then they're telling me how they went to Russia through Turkey (or plan to) - with their infants or toddlers - to visit family. The dads usually stayed in Germany to "be safe".
My immediate thought is always, man, how are they not scared. After all, God knows. They might be held back in Russia. They might have their kids held back. They might even end up in prison. Aren't they scared? Don't they care?
Then, after a while, I usually realize the thing. They're apolitical. They don't care what's going on. They care as far as how it has inflicted their lives, how it made travelling harder. What a shame Grandma has a harder time getting a visa to visit. They don't care about the dangers of travelling because there is no danger for them. They will be fine. They have never thought against, let alone voiced anything about their country's current situation. They have not ever partaken in any demonstration for Ukraine, they have never donated a cent to Ukraine, not even to OVD Info. There is virtually no danger to them, they are the kind of citizens the regime likes. They don't care, they don't oppose and if they did, the inconveniences it would cause to actually do something are too big. Go vote on March 17? Nah, that means standing in line. Putin will win anyway, why bother.
Everyone who stayed in Russia had their future taken. There are kids being bombed, orphanages being destroyed in Ukraine, and they care about how much of a hassle it is to fly through Turkey.
I understand the pain of not seeing your relatives again. I really do. But it should be more than a hassle for you. It should be dangerous. If it isn't dangerous enough for you, you have not done enough. Do your fucking part.
(Any moms in Leipzig who want to meet up and yell obscenities about Putin?)
Thank you/Спасибо
I'm more surprised they were organized enough to arrest her for it
I suspect the process is very simple, add the name and passport number details to be pulled over at the border. A notification to take someone aside and then call police to arrest srems simple enough and something that is videly practiced in an authoritarian countries. Where was a plane was forced down and a anti government person was arrested a couple of years ago? Wasn't it Belarus?
They took her phone as soon as she got there. Then they went through it for the next few weeks looking for reasons to arrest her and use her as a bargaining chip. They probably do this arbitrarily to pretty much everyone in her position.
In mother Russia you don't go to jail for your crimes, crimes go to you for jail.
Burner phone when you travel to authoritarian countries is a must...
I imagine the urge to visit family is strong but what was she thinking? With many young Russians desparate to leave Russia she decides to go there as a dual US/Russian despite being warned, despite the shit that is happening.
despite a US state department travel advisory warning against travel to Russia
Swan Lake broadcasting on every channel in Moscow right now...
That would be excellent. But also wishful thinking, probably.
Or are you being serious, it's actually broadcasting?
Some deep Sowjet lore right here.
Why in the piss fuck would you go to Russia willingly, even to visit family. Stay the fuck away. Especially if you are anti Russia and support Ukraine, and there's evidence of it.
This is the best summary I could come up with:
The amateur ballerina Ksenia Karelina, an American and Russian dual citizen who celebrated the new year with a trip to Istanbul with her partner Chris van Heerden, a South African professional boxer, before heading to Russia to visit family, was arrested and detained by Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB) on 28 January in her hometown of Yekaterinburg, about 1,100 miles east of Moscow.
Karelina may be the latest victim in a chess match over detainees between the US and Russia, which dates back more than 15 years when, in 2008, the US Drug Enforcement Administration arrested Viktor Bout, a former Soviet military officer and translator, on conspiracy charges.
Bout was eventually traded in 2022 for the WNBA champion Brittney Griner, who Russian officials had arrested for possessing vaporizer cartridges containing less than a gram of hash oil.
In March last year, Russian officials arrested the Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich in the same place as Karelina, Yekaterinburg.
Russian authorities later upped the ante, charging Karelina, a licensed esthetician employed by Ciel spa in Beverly Hills, with more serious offenses.
Right before the court date, Russian state media released a video of a woman who appears to be Karelina wearing a white puffer coat and a knit cap pulled over her eyes being handcuffed and led around a detention center.
The original article contains 971 words, the summary contains 220 words. Saved 77%. I'm a bot and I'm open source!
amateur ballerina Ksenia Karelina, an American and Russian dual citizen who celebrated the new year with a trip to Istanbul with her partner Chris van Heerden, a South African professional boxer, before heading to Russia to visit family
No way this is real. Definitely the premise for a sitcom, possibly a limited series dramedy.
Not that much. Expats tend to drift together. I'm a shut-in and have friends all over the world.
I was actually exaggerating my disbelief for comedic effect lol, sorry for being unclear about it. I am in fact in pretty much the same boat as you lol.
Still think it would make for a good TV premise, though 😁
Why is she in Russia?
Visiting family per the article.
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