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Russian-American Citizen Freed in US-Russia Prisoner Swap
In a notable prisoner exchange between Moscow and Washington, a Russian-American citizen has been released. The swap highlights ongoing tensions and diplomatic negotiations between the two nations.
Details of Ksenia Karelina’s Release
Ksenia Karelina, an amateur ballerina residing in Los Angeles, was freed after spending over a year in a Russian penal facility. She had been taken into custody in Russia in early 2024 while visiting family in Yekaterinburg.
Russian authorities, specifically the FSB security service, accused Karelina of funnelling funds to a Ukrainian organization allegedly procuring armaments for the Ukrainian military. She acknowledged culpability last August and was handed a lengthy 12-year imprisonment.
Human rights advocates in Russia stated that Karelina, while living in the United States, had made a single $51 monetary transfer to a Ukrainian charity on February 22, 2022, the date marking the commencement of Russia’s full-scale military action in Ukraine.
Charity’s Stance and Petrov’s Release
The implicated charitable organization refuted claims of collecting donations for weaponry or munitions, asserting its focus was dedicated to humanitarian aid and disaster relief efforts.
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The FSB reportedly discovered the aforementioned transaction on Karelina’s mobile device.
In return for Karelina’s release, the United States government liberated Arthur Petrov, a dual German-Russian national. Petrov was apprehended in Cyprus in 2023 on charges of illegally exporting microelectronics to Russia, allegedly for manufacturers supplying the Russian armed forces.
Swap Execution and Official Confirmation
Russian state news agency TASS reported that President Vladimir Putin granted a pardon to Ms. Karelina.
The prisoner exchange operation transpired in Abu Dhabi during the early hours of Thursday.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio verified that Ms. Karelina was “aboard an aircraft returning to the United States,” further stating that she had been “unjustly detained by Russia for over a year.”
“[Former] President [Donald] Trump secured her release. [He] will persist in endeavors to secure the freedom of ALL Americans,” Secretary Rubio added.
According to the Wall Street Journal, CIA Director John Ratcliffe was present during the exchange.
Second Exchange in Recent Months
This marks the second instance of a prisoner swap between Russia and the U.S. in under two months, signaling ongoing, albeit complex, communication between the two countries.
In February, Russian citizen Alexander Vinnik, who was incarcerated in a U.S. prison on charges related to money laundering, was released in exchange for American educator Marc Fogel.
Ongoing US-Russia Diplomacy
This exchange occurs as Moscow and Washington continue to navigate a strained geopolitical landscape. Officials from the U.S. and Russia are convened in Istanbul today for another round of discussions. These talks are aimed at reinstating some embassy functions that were diminished following the initiation of military actions in Ukraine.