The boxer boyfriend of imprisoned Russian-American dancer Ksenia Karelina has finally spoken out about his detention in his homeland on dubious treason charges as he tries to raise money to pay for her legal representation.
On his Instagram page, Chris Van Heerden posted a video showing Karelina dancing and smiling on Christmas morning at the home the couple shared in Los Angeles.
‘#PrayforKsenia. That’s Ksenia. She is a beautiful soul who only sees the good in everyone. “She’s happy and fun,” she wrote in the caption.
Karelina is accused of sending $51.80 from a U.S. bank account to a Ukrainian charity in February 2022. She was arrested nearly two years later on misdemeanor charges of hooliganism for using profanity outside a movie theater in Yekaterinburg, a city more than 800 miles east of Moscow.
The former IBO welterweight posted a link to his venmo account who will send donations to a GoFundMe page that is in the process of being created.
Former welterweight IBO Chris Van Heerden posted a link on his Venmo account indicating he will send donations to a GoFundMe page that is in the process of being created.
In an emotional interview with CNN that aired Thursday night, Van Heerden said Karelina was “not afraid” to return home to visit her elderly grandmother and said she was “very proud of Russia.”
In an emotional interview with cnn In the program aired Thursday night, Van Heerden said Karelina was “not afraid” to return home to visit her elderly grandmother and said she was “very proud of Russia.”
“She didn’t have a care in the world,” he continued. The boxer said that he paid for his partner to travel to Russia because he was homesick and wanted to see his family.
The two traveled together to Istanbul, where they had a vacation before she left for Russia and he returned to the United States.
Van Heerden explained that Karelina was arrested, her phone was confiscated but she was handed over to her family. She contacted him and told him that she could return to Los Angeles and that she would pick up her phone.
Despite Russian claims that Karelina was raising money for the Ukrainian military, Van Heerden said he never heard her talk about Putin’s invasion. “She doesn’t watch the news, she doesn’t intervene in anything.”
During his interview, Van Heerden reiterated that a lawyer who is willing to take on the case was charging “an incredible amount of money.”
‘I believe in America. “I believe that the United States will bring her back to me and that is the hope I cling to,” the boxer continued.
Karelina received American citizenship after marrying an American.
White House national security spokesman John Kirby said the White House and State Department were aware of reports of the arrest of a dual U.S.-Russian citizen, adding, “We are trying to obtain more information.” information and ensure some consular access to that individual.” ‘
Van Heerden pictured training in England in April 2022
On her Facebook page, Karelina says she is from Yekaterinburg and studied ballet at the SP Diaghilev school.
Karelina moved to the US after graduating from college in her native country in 2013.
Karelina is accused of raising funds for a pro-Ukrainian organization; she obtained US citizenship in 2021
Kirby declined to comment further out of respect for privacy, but reiterated “our very strong warnings about the danger they pose to American citizens inside Russia.”
He added: “If you are a US citizen, including a dual citizen residing or traveling in Russia, you should 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 primarily Russian citizens,” making it difficult for American diplomats to obtain consular assistance.
Some analysts have noted that Moscow could be using imprisoned Americans as bargaining chips after tensions between the United States and Russia soared when Russia sent troops to Ukraine. At least two American citizens arrested in Russia in recent years, including WNBA star Brittney Griner, have been exchanged for Russians imprisoned in the United States.
Earlier this week, Karelina’s ex-husband Evgeny Khavana exclusively revealed to DailyMail.com that his own family lives in fear and cannot speak freely because he believes Russian authorities are “listening to them.”
He said: ‘We can’t talk, my family can’t say anything. “We are being heard.”
Her mother-in-law, Eleanora Sreboski, told DailyMail.com that Ksenia would spend the rest of her life in a Russian prison if the United States did not intervene.