In a dramatic turn of events, a Russian-American woman, Ksenia Karelina, has been put on trial for alleged treason in Russia. The charges claim that she raised funds to support the Ukrainian army. If found guilty, Karelina could face a sentence of 12 years to life in prison.

The trial, held behind closed doors as customary in such cases in Russia, commenced on Thursday in the city of Yekaterinburg. The court released a short video of Karelina sitting in a glass cage, dressed in jeans and a green plaid shirt.

Karelina, who was born in Russia and later immigrated to the United States, had built a new life as an aesthetician at a Los Angeles spa. However, during her visit to her family in Yekaterinburg earlier this year, Russia's Federal Security Service (FSB) detained her in January.

Reports suggest that Karelina had initially been arrested under a minor "petty hooliganism" statute. However, she was later charged with treason, marking a significant escalation in her legal troubles. In February, Karelina's former mother-in-law revealed that she had made a small donation to Razom for Ukraine, a New York-based nonprofit organization that provides non-military assistance to Ukraine, which has been invaded by Russian forces in 2022.

The trial of Karelina is bound to attract attention due to the growing number of foreign nationals, including at least a dozen Americans, who are imprisoned in Russia amid the ongoing crisis in relations between Moscow and Washington during the Ukraine war. Acquittals in treason cases are rare in the Russian legal system, adding to the gravity of the situation for Karelina.

Karelina, who arrived in the US in 2012 through a work-study program and was briefly married to her former mother-in-law's son, is described as a fun-loving woman who did not have a strong interest in politics. Her social media profiles depict her enjoying time with friends and engaging in recreational activities, free from any political messaging.

The trial continues to unfold, and Karelina's fate hangs in the balance as she faces the weighty charge of treason. The case serves as a reminder of the complex dynamics surrounding international relations and the dire consequences individuals can face when caught in the crossfire of geopolitical disputes.