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Russian-American Woman Freed in Prisoner Exchange, Returns to U.S. After Detention
Ksenia Karelina, a Russian-American woman held in Russia for over a year on accusations of financially supporting the Ukrainian military, has been freed and returned to the United States on Thursday night following a prisoner swap. Her release brings to a close a period of detention that sparked international concern and discussions regarding wrongful detainment. The former ballerina, who resided in Los Angeles, was taken into custody in Russia in February 2024 and subsequently given a 12-year sentence in a penal colony for what authorities termed “high treason.”
Arrival in the United States
The aircraft carrying Ms. Karelina landed at Joint Base Andrews near Washington, D.C., at 10:56 p.m. Upon disembarking, she was seen smiling and was greeted with embraces by individuals awaiting her arrival on the tarmac.
Details of the Arrest and Allegations
According to the Russian legal advocacy group Perviy Otdel, and the U.S. spa where Karelina was employed, her apprehension stemmed from a modest $51.80 contribution to a charitable organization providing assistance to Ukraine. Russian authorities, specifically the Federal Security Service (FSB), alleged that this relatively small donation “was subsequently used to procure tactical medical supplies, equipment, weapons and ammunition for the Ukrainian armed forces.”
It is worth noting that Russia initiated a large-scale invasion of Ukraine on February 24, 2022, an act of aggression that has been widely condemned by the United States, European nations, and numerous other countries globally as unprovoked.
Reports indicate that Ms. Karelina’s donation to the charity coincided with the date of this invasion.
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Prisoner Exchange Confirmed
The State Department has officially confirmed that Karelina’s freedom was secured through a prisoner exchange facilitated with the U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio previously stated that he believed she was being unjustly held by Russia. Earlier on Thursday, Special Envoy for Hostage Response Adam Boehler shared an image online of Ms. Karelina aboard a plane bound for the United States, visibly holding an American flag.
Release of Arthur Petrov
In what appears to be the reciprocal aspect of this exchange, Russian national Arthur Petrov was also released, as confirmed by the State Department. Reports from The Wall Street Journal indicate that Mr. Petrov is a dual German-Russian citizen who was apprehended in Cyprus in 2023 at the request of the U.S. The charges against Petrov reportedly relate to allegations of exporting controlled microelectronics.