CBS News
Boyfriend of Ksenia Khavana, Los Angeles ballet dancer detained in Russia, speaks out
Ksenia Khavana, a ballet dancer with dual U.S. and Russian citizenship, was arrested in Russia on charges of treason in late January. Chris Van Heerden, a former world champion boxer and Khavana’s boyfriend, spoke to CBS News about the fight to bring her back.
Van Heerden said he and Khavana met in 2020 in Los Angeles and have been romantically involved for the past six months. The couple celebrated the new year together in Istanbul, Turkey, before Khavana flew to her family’s hometown of Yekaterinburg, Russia, about 1,100 miles east of Moscow.
“She was just so excited to go back home because she misses her grandparents,” Van Heerden said. “And that was the purpose of me buying that ticket. I bought her that ticket, and I’m so angry at myself, but I didn’t know.”
Chris Van Heerden
Van Heerden bought Khavana the ticket as a birthday present, saying that, although he was worried about the ongoing war in Ukraine, she alleviated his concerns. He reached out to her when he returned to Los Angeles from Turkey, but “hours went by with no response.”
Khavana eventually called Van Heerden from her mother’s phone, saying she had been detained upon her arrival and her phone had been taken. The next three weeks passed without incident.
“I remember the last week I could see my girlfriend — I was like, she’s happy, finally she’s relaxing… she was excited,” Van Heerden said of their daily FaceTimes on Khavana’s mother’s phone.
On the morning of Jan. 27 Khavana told Van Heerden that everything was good, and she had been told she could pick up her phone ahead of her return flight. But Van Heerden later received a call from Khavana’s father, who told him she had been detained.
Khavana was arrested after making a donation of only about $51 to a Ukrainian charity. Russia’s Federal Security Service alleges she also took part in “public actions” in the U.S. in support of Kyiv. It did not provide further details about the allegations.
If convicted of treason under Article 275 of the Russian Criminal Code, Khavana faces up to 20 years in prison.
“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,” Van Heerden said of the case’s current status. “This could take weeks or months. And I’m like, who do I speak to to make sure we get someone to Ksenia ASAP to make sure she’s okay and sign those letters so I can be in the loop?”
The only contact Van Heerden has had with Khavana since her detention has been via letters, which he says go through vetting protocols. When Khavana went to court in Russia previously, she stood alone, Van Heerden said.
“The lawyer didn’t show up. No one wants to touch this case,” Van Heerden said. She is next scheduled to appear in court on Feb. 29, and has not yet been able to secure legal representation, Van Heerden told CBS News.
“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.” Van Heerden said. “I’m just desperate. I want to fight for this girl.”
— Imtiaz Tyab contributed reporting.
CBS News
Kamala Harris will speak with “60 Minutes” tomorrow. Here’s what to know for the interview.
Voters will get the chance to hear from Vice President Kamala Harris on Monday as she presents her case for why she should be president in a “60 Minutes” election special.
For decades, “60 Minutes” has featured both Republican and Democratic nominees for presidents, but this year, former President Donald Trump backed out after previously indicating he would be on the show. Correspondent Scott Pelley, who’d been set to interview Trump, will instead travel to Arizona’s Maricopa County, home to more than 60% of Arizona’s voters and a critical battleground in a key swing state.
One thing is certain about the election; with the U.S. deeply involved in both the wars in Ukraine and the Middle East, whoever wins on Nov. 5 will become a wartime president.
What Harris will discuss
Israel’s war started one year ago after Hamas launched a surprise terror attack and correspondent Bill Whitaker will discuss the ongoing war with Harris.
Harris will also discuss the economy, immigration, her record as vice president and the differences between herself and Trump.
Democratic vice presidential candidate Gov. Tim Walz will also appear.
Whitaker joined the Democratic ticket on the campaign trail this week to gain insight into their platform’s priorities and values, and what the candidates believe voters should know.
Why Trump pulled out of the “60 Minutes” interview
Leading up to the candidate hour, Trump, through campaign spokespeople, was the first candidate to accept the “60 Minutes” request to be interviewed for the special, according to CBS News. It had been agreed that both candidates would receive equal time during the broadcast.
Trump last sat down with 60 Minutes in 2020. He walked out during the interview with Lesley Stahl. Trump referenced the incident on Tuesday night at a Milwaukee press conference when asked about his decision not to participate in the Oct. 7 “60 Minutes” election special.
“Well, right now, I went to – they came to me and would like me to do an interview, but first I want to get an apology, because the last time I did an interview with them, if you remember, they challenged me on the computer,” Trump said. “They said the ‘laptop from hell’ was from Russia, and I said it wasn’t from Russia. It was from Hunter, and I never got an apology, so I’m sort of waiting. I’d love to do ’60 Minutes.’ I do everything.”
The Republican nominee for president emphasized that he felt he was owed an apology from “60 Minutes.”
“Let’s see if they do it. I wouldn’t mind doing 60,” Trump continued. “I’ve done ’60 Minutes’ a lot.”
In a statement on Tuesday, Trump campaign communications director Steven Cheung said that Trump’s team had not agreed to an interview.
“Fake News,” Cheung said in a post on X. “60 Minutes begged for an interview, even after they were caught lying about Hunter Biden’s laptop back in 2020. There were initial discussions, but nothing was ever scheduled or locked in. They also insisted on doing live fact checking, which is unprecedented.”
Previous Trump, Harris appearances on 60 Minutes
Trump previously sat down with “60 Minutes'” Mike Wallace in 1985, Pelley in 2015 and Lesley Stahl twice in 2016, first in July of that year and then again in November of 2016. He also spoke with Stahl again in 2018 and 2020.
Harris previously sat down with Whitaker last year. She also was interviewed by Norah O’Donnell, “CBS Evening News” anchor and “60 Minutes” contributing correspondent, in 2020.
How to watch the “60 Minutes” election special
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