In March last year, Russian officials arrested the Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich in the same place as Karelina, Yekaterinburg.
Gershkovich and the ex-US marine Paul Whelan, arrested in 2018, are being held on bogus espionage charges, according to the US government.
In January, Moscow also arrested the English teacher Robert Woodland Romanov, a dual US-Russian citizen, on drug charges.
Van Heerden is desperate to raise awareness and money for his partner’s legal defense and return.
“The plan was for her to go to Russia, come back and then I would propose,” said Van Heerden, 36.
After the trip to Turkey, Van Heerden returned to LA and, despite a US state department travel advisory warning against travel to Russia, Karelina went to visit her family.
Van Heerden said she decided to enter the country on her Russian passport, betting she would attract less scrutiny. »