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2w ago

Ksenia Karelina Freed in U.S.-Russia Prisoner Swap

The dual U.S.-Russian citizen, jailed for donating $51 to a Ukraine charity, was exchanged for Arthur Petrov in Abu Dhabi after over a year of detention.

FILE - Ksenia Karelina, also known as Khavana sits in a glass cage in a court room in Yekaterinburg, Russia, Thursday, June 20, 2024. (AP Photo, File)
Russian-American dual citizen Ksenia Karelina attends a court hearing in Yekaterinburg, Russia, on August 15, 2024.
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Ksenia Karelina, a Russian-American dual citizen who was released from detention in Russia, reacts as she arrives at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland, U.S., April 10, 2025. REUTERS/Kevin Mohatt

Overview

  • Ksenia Karelina, a former ballerina and dual U.S.-Russian citizen, was released after being sentenced to 12 years in Russia for treason over a $51.80 donation to a Ukraine-focused charity.
  • The prisoner exchange took place in Abu Dhabi, where Karelina was swapped for Arthur Petrov, a German-Russian citizen accused of exporting sensitive U.S. microelectronics to Russia.
  • U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and CIA Director John Ratcliffe credited President Trump and intelligence negotiations for securing Karelina's release.
  • The swap marks the second U.S.-Russia prisoner exchange since Trump returned to office, reflecting rare diplomatic cooperation amid broader geopolitical tensions.
  • Karelina returned to the U.S. Thursday night, greeted by officials and family, while U.S. authorities emphasized ongoing efforts to secure the release of other Americans detained in Russia.