Russia detains Los Angeles woman on suspicion of treason

Russian authorities have detained a woman who is a Los Angeles resident and dual national on suspicion of treason for raising funds to support Ukraine in its defense against the Kremlin’s invasion.

The Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) in the Ural Mountains city of Yekaterinburg said early Tuesday that the unnamed 33-year-old woman has dual Russian-American citizenship. The White House said it was working to secure consular access.

Since 2022 she “was involved in providing financial assistance to a foreign state in activities directed against the security of our country,” the statement said.

The statement added the suspect collected money for the Ukrainian war effort that was spent on medicine, equipment, weapons and ammunition. No other details nor a description of any evidence were released.

“In addition, in the United States, this citizen repeatedly took part in public actions in support of the Kiev regime,” it said.

She is accused of treason under article 275 of the Russian Criminal Code, which is punishable by 12 to 20 years in prison, as well confiscation of property.

As with previous arrests of foreign- and dual-nationals, the woman is detained under a pre-trial custody order.

There was no immediate comment from the U.S. Embassy in Moscow or the State Department. A White House official told NBC News on Tuesday that “The White House and State Department are working to obtain more information and secure consular access to the individual.”

In January, U.S. national Robert Romanov Woodland was arrested and detained on drug trafficking charges.

Alsu Kurmasheva, a dual Russian American reporter, was detained late last year and charged with failure to register as a foreign agent. And Wall Street Journal reporter