Here we go again. Russia's main security agency, the Federal Security Service, known as the F.S.B., said Tuesday that it had arrested a dual citizen of the United States and Russia. She is charged with committing state treason because she raised money for Ukraine. 

Allegedly the 33-year-old woman identified as Ksenia Karelina, a resident of Los Angeles, raised money for a Ukrainian organization that bought weapons and equipment for Ukraine's military. She is alleged to have donated $50 to Ukraine for the war effort.

She became a US citizen in 2021. She was previously a student at the University of Maryland. Karelina moved to the United States after graduating from college in Russia in 2013. She is a ballerina. 

A group of Russian lawyers who specialize in cases involving treason charges, Pervly Otdel, said she is accused of sending about $50 to Razom for Ukraine, a New York-based nonprofit that sends assistance to Ukraine.

She was arrested by the F.S.B. in Yekaterinburg. That is the same central Russian city in which the Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich was arrested last year on an espionage charge.

Ria Novosti, a Russian state news agency, published a video of her wearing a white hat that covered her eyes. She was handcuffed and escorted by masked security officers.

She was arrested on the same day in January that Putin sat down for his widely panned interview with Tucker Carlson. The apprehension took place outside of a movie theater in Yekaterinburg. The initial charges related to swearing offenses.

If she is convicted, she could face 20 years in prison. Lawyers say that Karelina was originally arrested on 'petty hooliganism' charges after she was accused of swearing outside of a movie theater. After her initial arrest, Karelina was then accused of fundraising for a Ukrainian military cause. 

The White House released a statement.

'The White House and State Department aware of reports that a dual U.S.-Russia citizen has been detained in Russia. We are working to obtain more information and secure consular access to the individual.' 

On Tuesday, White House NSA spokesperson John Kirby told Americans to leave Russia immediately. The Biden administration is preparing to announce strong sanctions on Russia in response to the death of Alexei Navalny on Friday.

Kirby also pressed House Republicans to pass critical foreign aid legislation to help Ukraine in its fight against Russia.

His reinforcement of the existing Level 4 "Do Not Travel" Advisory also comes after last Friday's revelation that Russia may be preparing nuclear weapons for space.

"At President Biden's direction, we will be announcing a major sanctions package on Friday of this week to hold Russia accountable for what happened to Mr Navalny," Kirby told reporters Tuesday. "Whatever story the Russian government decides to tell the world, it's clear President Putin and his government are responsible for Mr Navalny's death."

"If the Ukrainians aren't better supplied," Kirby said, "if they don't get a relief from the shortage of ammunition that they are suffering right now, this move on Avdiivka could actually have a larger effect on the fighting in the east and the amount of territory that the Russians might be able to get over time."

This wasn't her first run-in with Moscow law enforcement. Russia's Mediazone outlet reports that she was first arrested on January 27 in Yekaterinburg on "petty hooliganism" for swearing.

“The young woman was using coarse, obscene language in front of other citizens, was behaving rudely and defiantly,” court officials told the local news outlet Ura.ru

When police were called, their arrival was said to have “riled her up” Karelina. She allegedly ignored the officers’ commands and violently resisted arrest.

On Jan. 29,  Karelina was found guilty of hooliganism and sentenced to 14 days in jail.

She filed a complaint about her arrest the next day, but the court rejected it. She was then charged under Article 275 of Russia’s Criminal Code, which carries a prison term of 12 to 20 years.