Russia sentences American woman to 12 years for donation aiding Ukraine

Karelina’s sentencing, weeks after the prisoner exchange, underscored the risks of travel to Russia, with U.S. officials warning of a sharp rise in hostage diplomacy — the practice of arresting foreign citizens for political leverage or use in prisoner exchanges. Russia swapped 16 prisoners including Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich, Washington Post contributing columnist Vladimir Kara-Murza and other prominent political prisoners, and several German citizens, in return for 10 Russian intelligence agents, undercover spies and their two children, hackers, and Vadim Krasikov, a convicted assassin associated with an elite...