Tearful boxer boyfriend of ballerina Ksenia Karelina breaks his silence as she faces high treason charges in Moscow saying ‘she was so proud’ of Russia and had ‘no worries’ returning as he posts joyful video of the dancer

The boxer boyfriend of imprisoned American-Russian ballerina Ksenia Karelina has finally spoken about her detention in her home country on dubious treason charges as he tries to raise money to pay for her legal representation.

On his Instagram page, Chris Van Heerde posted a video of Karelina dancing and smiling on Christmas morning at the home the couple shared in Los Angeles.

‘#PrayforKsenia. This is who Ksenia is. She is a beautiful soul who sees only the good in everyone. She is happy and funny,” he wrote in the caption.

Karelina is accused of sending $51.80 from a U.S. bank account to a Ukrainian charity in February 2022. Nearly two years later, she was arrested on charges of petty hooliganism for swearing outside a cinema in Yekaterinburg, a city more than 800 miles east of Moscow.

The former IBO welterweight posted a link to his Venmo account that he will send donations to a GoFundMe page that is currently being set up.

In an emotional interview with CNN that aired Thursday evening, Van Heerde said Karelina “wasn’t afraid” to go home to visit her elderly grandmother and said she is “so proud of Russia.”

In an emotional interview with CNN which aired Thursday evening, Van Heerde said Karelina “wasn’t afraid” to go home to visit her elderly grandmother and said she is “so proud of Russia.”

“She wasn’t worried about anything,” he continued. The boxer said he paid for his partner to travel to Russia because she was homesick and wanted to see her family.

The two traveled together to Istanbul, where they vacationed just after Christmas before heading to Russia when he returned to the US.

Van Heerde explained that Karelina was arrested, her phone was confiscated but she was released to her family. She contacted him and said she could return to LA and pick up her phone.

Despite Russian claims that Karelina was raising money for the Ukrainian army, Van Heerde said he never heard her speak about Putin’s invasion. “She doesn’t watch the news, she doesn’t get involved in anything.”

During his interview, Van Herden reiterated that a lawyer willing to take the case charged “an insane amount.”

‘I believe in America. I truly believe that America will bring her back to me and that is the hope I hold on to,” the boxer continued.

Karelina received American citizenship after marrying an American.

At the time of her arrest, Karelina was working as a skin care therapist at an upscale spa in Beverly Hills.

In a separate interview with NBC Los Angeles, Van Heerde said he has been in a relationship with Karelina for about six months and that they “basically live together.”

Van Heerde imagined training in England in April 2022

On her Facebook page, Karelina says she is from Yekaterinburg and that she studied ballet at the SP Diaghilev School

Karelina moved to the US after graduating from college in her home country in 2013

Karelina is accused of fundraising for a pro-Ukrainian organization. She obtained US citizenship in 2021

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 that “we are trying to do more obtain information and ensure some consular access to that person. ‘

Kirby refrained from further comment out of respect for privacy, but reiterated “our very strong warnings about the danger to American citizens in Russia.”

He added: “If you are a U.S. citizen, including dual nationals living or traveling in Russia, you must leave right now.”

Miller noted that when it comes to dual citizenship of the United States and Russia, Moscow “does not recognize dual citizenship, but considers them primarily as Russian citizens,” making it difficult for U.S. diplomats to get consular assistance .

Some analysts have noted that Moscow could use captured Americans as a bargaining chip after U.S.-Russian tensions soared when Russia sent troops to Ukraine. At least two US citizens arrested in Russia in recent years, including WNBA star Brittney Griner, have been exchanged for Russians imprisoned in the US.

Earlier this week, Karelina’s former husband, Evgeny Khavana, revealed exclusively to DailyMail.com that his own family lives in fear and cannot speak out because they believe they are being ‘listened to’ by Russian authorities.

He said: ‘We can’t talk, my family can’t say anything. We are being listened to.’

Her mother-in-law, Eleanora Sreboski, told DailyMail.com that Ksenia would spend the rest of her life in a Russian prison if America did not intervene.