As the United States today announced new sanctions against Moscow following the death of Russian opposition leader Alexey Navalny, President Joe Biden met with his widow in San Francisco on Thursday. As Voice of America correspondent Cindy Saine reports, President Biden praised the work of the opposition leader in his courageous fight for a democratic Russia.
During a meeting Thursday in California with Alexey Navalny's widow, Yulia Navalnaya, and their daughter, Dasha, President Joe Biden praised the opposition leader's work in his courageous fight against corruption and for a free and democratic.
At the meeting of the foreign ministers of the G20 countries in Brazil, Secretary of State Antony Blinken spoke about the US sanctions against Russia related to its aggression against Ukraine and the death of the oppositionist Navalny.
“…Navalny was a heroic leader in his life and work. But the fact that Vladimir Putin found it necessary to hunt down, poison and imprison him speaks volumes. Not for the power of Russia under Putin, but for its weakness”, said the American chief diplomat.
On Wednesday, Russian media released footage of the arrest of a 33-year-old Russian-American dual citizen on charges of treason. The woman from California was visiting her family in the Russian city of Yekaterinburg for the new year. Russian media did not identify her, but announced that she is being charged with treason for supporting Ukraine.
Other media reported that her name was Kseniya Karelina, and some others used the surname Khavana, from a previous marriage.
In an Instagram post, her Los Angeles employer, Ciel Spa, said she is being charged with treason after donating $51 to a Ukrainian charity in the United States. The company called for her release. The Voice of America talked to her, Eleanora Srebroski.
“On January 2 she arrived in Yekaterinburg and was arrested on January 27 on suspicion of hooliganism, which is ridiculous. I know her, and she's not someone I can do anything bad to. Never in my life have I heard him say a bad word or curse. She is a positive person who radiates light and joy,” said the former mother-in-law.
Meanwhile, State Department spokesman Matthew Miller said the United States is seeking consular access to the newly arrested American woman. He emphasized that Russia considers individuals with dual citizenship as Russian citizens.
“It's unfortunate that Russia continues to arrest its citizens, it continues to arrest American citizens, and that's why we've tried to warn American citizens not to go to Russia because they risk imprisonment by the Russian regime.”
News on Tuesday of the Russian-American's arrest came on the same day as a Moscow court ordered the detention of American Evan Gershkovich, who worked for the Wall Street Journal, pending trial on espionage charges he denies. strength.
As tributes to the late opposition leader Navalny continue around the world, his mother announced that she had been allowed to see her son's body. She said Russian officials are insisting on a secret funeral.
Another jailed Russian opposition leader who voluntarily returned to Russia despite the danger, Vladimir Kara-Murza, spoke from prison on Thursday via video link. He called on people in Russia and around the world not to give in to the gloom and despair after Mr Navalny's death, but to work harder to make Russia a normal European, free and democratic country.