US-Russian Ballerina Freed in Prisoner Swap with Russia

Ksenia Karelina, detained for donating $51 to a pro-Ukraine charity, returns to the US after a high-stakes exchange for Arthur Petrov.

Ksenia Karelina, a dual US-Russian citizen, was sentenced to 12 years in Russia for treason after donating $51 to a US-based Ukrainian charity.
Her release was secured through a prisoner exchange in Abu Dhabi, where the US swapped her for Arthur Petrov, a Russian-German citizen accused of smuggling sensitive microelectronics.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and CIA Director John Ratcliffe credited President Trump and the CIA for negotiating the exchange.
Karelina’s case highlights Russia’s use of detention as a political tool, with her arrest stemming from a visit to family in early 2024.
The swap coincided with US-Russia talks focused on restoring embassy operations, deliberately excluding discussions on the Ukraine conflict.