Ksenia Karelina, a US-Russian dual national imprisoned for a Ukraine relief donation of around $50, was released from prison in exchange for a German-Russian man accused of military espionage.
The US and Russia carried out a prisoner exchange in Abu Dhabi on Thursday that saw US-Russian dual national Ksenia Karelina released from a Russian prison in exchange for Arthur Petrov, a German-Russian national.
Karelina’s lawyer confirmed the news Thursday morning.
Karelina, a former ballet dancer, had been serving a 12-year prison sentence after being convicted in August 2024 of treason for donating around $50 (€45.30) to a charity benefiting Ukraine.
She had obtained US citizenship after moving to Los Angeles and was arrested in January 2024, after returning to Russia to visit family.
US CIA Director John Ratcliffe, who was in Abu Dhabi to greet Karelina, told the Wall Street Journal newspaper: “Today, President Trump brought home another wrongfully detained American from Russia. I’m proud of the CIA officers who worked tirelessly to support this effort, and we appreciate the Government of UAE for enabling the exchange.”
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio also confirmed Karelina’s release.
“American Ksenia Karelina is on a plane back home to the United States. She was wrongfully detained by Russia for over a year and President Trump secured her release,” Rubio wrote on X.
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