Pro Boxer Pleads With Donald Trump and Tucker Carlson to Aid in Girlfriend’s Release From Russian Detention Center

South African fighter, Chris van Heerden, is leaving no stone unturned in helping secure his girlfriend’s release from Russian custody. In a heart-wrenching plea, the fighter wrote to Former President, Donald J Trump, and Tucker Carlson. 

Ksenia Khavana, a dual citizen of the US and Russia, was arrested in the Russian city of Yekaterinburg. Her charges stand on allegedly “providing financial assistance to a foreign state in activities directed against Russian security.” Since her detention, Van Heerden has launched a social media campaign to free his girlfriend. While writing to the top voices in the US, including Trump and former Fox News Anchor, Tucker Carlson, the former IBO champion, shared visuals that are speculated to be of his girlfriend held in Russian custody.

Chris van Heerden voices, #FreeKsenia

Khavana, a ballet dancer, met the Southpaw in 2020, in Los Angeles. The two have been romantically together for six months now. After celebrating the New Year together in Istanbul, Turkey, the 33-year-old flew to her hometown in Yekaterinburg to celebrate her birthday. Despite his worries about the ongoing Russian war with Ukraine, he bought her the ticket as a birthday present.

Upon returning to LA from Turkey, he called Khavana on her phone, but “hours went by with no response.” As per reports, she entered Russian territory on January 2, but information about her detention reached the US only on January 8. She eventually reached out to Heerden via her mother’s phone, informing him of her detention. The Russian Federal Security has accused her of donating $51.80 to a Ukrainian charity in the US.

If convicted for the charges of treason, she’s been booked under, Khavana could face jail time of about 20 years. After appearing on multiple news channels and seeking help from politicians, his cry for help has not yielded any positive results. Relentless, however, he is now reaching out to Donald Trump and Tucker Carlson. Alongside, he shared a video that was uploaded by Russian state media, suggesting that the woman masked in a hat, handcuffed, was Khavana. He wrote on X, “Please @realDonaldTrump I need your help,” with a verbatim message addressed to Carlson as well.

Speaking about the help he sought from the US State Department, he told CBS, “I’ve been [speaking to] the U.S. State Department, Congressman Adam Schiff’s seen me in L.A., The U.S. embassy in Moscow has responded, but everyone is not saying anything because apparently, Ksenia needs to sign some forms.” He remains worried that the apparent form signing could take weeks or even months. In the next two days, a crucial court hearing could decide the fate of Khavana.

Ksenia Khavana to appear in court

Ksenia Khavana became a US citizen in 2021. However, Russia’s policy does not recognize dual citizenship. It sees any person with a Russian passport as its citizen, “first and foremost,” making it hard for US citizens who also have a Russian passport, to access consulate services.

Also Read: Ex-World Champion Chris van Heerden Urges Fans to Pray for His Girlfriend Held in Russian Detention Center: “It Is a Constant Battle”

Her next hearing in Russian courts is scheduled for February 29th. Elaborating on it, the former IBO welterweight champion noted, “I just want to give this girl a fighting chance. I just want to let her know that hey, when she arrives there on the 29th, there’s a lawyer, and she doesn’t feel like no one cares about her.”

“I’m just desperate. I want to fight for this girl,” he said in the interview. It remains to see what Russian authorities relay on February 29th. Meanwhile, Chris van Heerden is spearheading a movement to get his girlfriend back to the US, safe and sound.

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