All articles tagged with #treason charges
Hakainde Hichilema was sworn in for a second term as Zambia’s president after a disputed August election in which his main rival and several opposition figures were detained or charged, the courts were closed, and international leaders attended the ceremony as he pledged inclusive governance and ongoing economic reforms.
Former DRC president Joseph Kabila, who ruled for 18 years, faces a death-penalty treason conviction that he says is bogus; he returned to the eastern Congo to territory controlled by rebels, including the city of Goma seized in 2025 by a Rwanda-backed militia, underscoring ongoing insecurity and political peril.
Following Tanzania's controversial election, at least 240 individuals, including prominent figures and social media influencers, have been charged with treason amid violent protests and a crackdown that has raised concerns over human rights and safety, especially for Kenyans in Tanzania. The government claims the election was fair, but opposition and international observers criticize it as undemocratic, with ongoing tensions affecting diplomatic relations with Kenya.
Nigeria has dropped treason charges against over 30 children who were detained for participating in anti-government protests in August, following public outrage over their treatment and prolonged detention. President Bola Tinubu ordered their release and called for an investigation into the officials involved. The move came after footage of the minors collapsing in court due to malnourishment went viral, sparking criticism from rights organizations like Amnesty International, which condemned the detention as a severe suppression of freedom of assembly.
Ksenia Khavana, a Russian-American ballet dancer, has been detained in Russia on charges of treason, accused of collecting money for the Ukrainian military and attending pro-Ukraine rallies in the U.S. She faces up to 20 years in prison if convicted. Khavana's employer and family express concern for her well-being, while the U.S. government seeks more information and consular access to her. The arrest comes amid heightened tensions between Russia and the West, and follows the detention of a Wall Street Journal reporter on espionage charges.
Ksenia Karelina, a dual US-Russian citizen, was arrested in Russia on charges of treason for allegedly donating $51 to a Ukrainian charity. Her boyfriend believes she is being used as a pawn by Russian authorities and hopes the US will bring her back. Her arrest is seen as part of Russia's strategy to build leverage with American hostages, as evidenced by the recent detention of American journalist Evan Gershkovich.
Ksenia Karelina, a dual citizen of Russia and the United States, has been detained in Russia on treason charges for allegedly donating to a New York-based Ukrainian charity aiding Ukraine’s military. U.S. officials have warned that Russia has become too dangerous for any American to remain, and her loved ones fear for her fate. The arrest comes amid growing concern over the authoritarian nature of the Russian state, with the White House issuing a strong warning to U.S. nationals in Russia. Karelina's case is the latest in a series of detentions involving American citizens in Russia, raising fears of potential use as bargaining chips.
Russian opposition politician Vladimir Kara-Murza, who was sentenced to 25 years on treason charges and for criticizing Moscow's Ukraine offensive, has been brought to a maximum-security Siberian prison to serve his punishment. Kara-Murza, a dual Russian-British citizen, was placed in an isolation cell upon arrival. His lawyers and family have expressed concerns about his fragile health due to a nerve condition caused by two poisoning attempts. The lengthy sentence and crackdown on dissent highlight the ongoing repression of opposition figures in Russia.
Three Russian scientists who worked on the country's hypersonic missile program have been arrested on suspicion of high treason, causing concern among their colleagues and raising fears of a decline in research. The arrests come as Ukraine claims to have shot down six Russian Kinzhal missiles in a single night, which were once touted as "invulnerable" by President Vladimir Putin. The vulnerability of the missiles is seen as an embarrassment for Russia.
Russia summoned the US, British, and Canadian ambassadors for condemning the conviction of opposition politician Vladimir Kara-Murza on treason charges. The Russian Foreign Ministry accused the three ambassadors of "crude interference in Russia's internal affairs and activity incompatible with their diplomatic status". Kara-Murza had lobbied Western governments for sanctions against Russia and condemned Moscow's "special military operation" in Ukraine. The foreign ministry called the British ambassador's remarks "inappropriate" and "provocative" and said they ran counter to diplomatic norms.