Overview

• Ksenia Karelina, a dual US-Russian citizen, returned to the US after over a year in Russian custody, where she was sentenced to 12 years for treason in 2024.
• Her release was part of a prisoner swap in Abu Dhabi, where the US freed Arthur Petrov, a dual Russian-German national accused of violating US export controls.
• The swap was facilitated through high-level negotiations involving CIA Director John Ratcliffe and Russian intelligence officials, with mediation by the UAE.
• Karelina’s detention, based on her donation to Razom for Ukraine, was widely condemned by the US as unjust and politically motivated.
• This marks the second US-Russia prisoner exchange since President Trump's return to office, reflecting ongoing efforts to improve strained diplomatic relations.