A U.S.-Russian twin nationwide imprisoned in Russia on treason costs was freed Thursday in a prisoner change with Washington, the girl’s lawyer and U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio mentioned.
Ksenia Karelina, additionally recognized within the media as Ksenia Khavana, is “on a airplane again dwelling to the USA,” Rubio mentioned in a submit on X. She was arrested within the Ural Mountains metropolis of Yekaterinburg in February 2024 and convicted of treason later that yr on costs stemming from a donation of about $52 to a charity aiding Ukraine.
The U.S. authorities have known as the case in opposition to her “completely ludicrous.” Karelina was amongst a rising variety of People arrested in Russia in recent times as tensions between Moscow and Washington spiked over the conflict in Ukraine. Her launch is the most recent in a collection of high-profile prisoner exchanges Russia and the USA carried out within the final three years.
Karelina, a former ballet dancer, reportedly obtained U.S. citizenship after marrying an American and transferring to Los Angeles. She was arrested when she returned to Russia to go to her household final yr.
Russia’s Federal Safety Service, or FSB, accused her of “proactively” amassing cash for a Ukrainian group that was supplying gear to Kyiv’s forces. The First Division, a Russian rights group, mentioned the fees stemmed from a $51.80 donation to a U.S. charity aiding Ukraine.
Karelina’s lawyer Mikhail Mushailov mentioned on Instagram that she was flying to the U.S. from Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, the place the change befell. It was first reported by the Wall Avenue Journal, citing a press release from CIA director John Ratcliffe, who it mentioned was available for the change at an airport in Abu Dhabi.
“As we speak, President Trump introduced dwelling one other wrongfully detained American from Russia,” Ratcliffe mentioned. “I’m pleased with the CIA officers who labored tirelessly to assist this effort, and we admire the Authorities of U.A.E. for enabling the change.”
The CIA couldn’t be instantly reached for remark within the early hours of Thursday.
The WSJ mentioned that the U.S. in change freed Arthur Petrov, a twin German-Russian citizen, who was arrested in 2023 in Cyprus on the request of the U.S. for allegedly exporting delicate microelectronics to Russia. There was no speedy affirmation from the Russian or U.S. authorities.
Petrov was extradited to the U.S. in August 2024 the place he confronted costs of export management violations, smuggling, wire fraud and cash laundering. He was accused of involvement in a scheme to acquire U.S.-sourced microelectronics topic to U.S. export controls on behalf of a Russia-based provider of vital electronics elements for producers supplying weaponry and different tools to the Russian navy.
Abu Dhabi was earlier the scene of one other high-profile prisoner swap between Russia and the USA. In December 2022, American basketball star Brittney Griner was traded for the infamous Russian arms supplier Viktor Bout.
The UAE has been a mediator in prisoner swaps between Russia and Ukraine, whereas the skyscraper-studded metropolis of Dubai has grow to be dwelling to many Russians and Ukrainian who fled there after the beginning of Moscow’s 2022 full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
