In a notable prisoner exchange, Ksenia Karelina, a Russian-American held in a Russian prison on charges related to a minimal donation to Ukraine, is back in the US. The swap involved the US releasing Arthur Petrov, jailed for exporting microelectronics to Russia.
Ukrainian Aid Donor Released: Major US-Russia Prisoner Swap
Ukrainian Aid Donor Released: Major US-Russia Prisoner Swap
Ksenia Karelina, sentenced in Russia for a minor donation to Ukraine, freed in exchange for Arthur Petrov amid tense international relations.
In a significant development amidst ongoing geopolitical tension, Ksenia Karelina, a Russian-American citizen, has been released following a prisoner swap between the United States and Russia. Karelina, an amateur ballerina residing in Los Angeles, had spent over a year incarcerated in Russia after being arrested during a family visit to Yekaterinburg in early 2024. She was accused by Russia's FSB security service of financially supporting a Ukrainian organization allegedly involved in armament provision to the Ukrainian military.
Karelina, who pleaded guilty last August, was sentenced to twelve years in prison, based on a single donation of $51 made on the first day of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine on February 22, 2022. Human rights activists pointed out that the charity she contributed to emphasized its commitment to humanitarian and disaster relief efforts, denying any involvement in weapon sourcing. It is believed that the FSB uncovered her donation through phone records.
The exchange involved the US releasing Arthur Petrov, a dual German-Russian citizen apprehended in Cyprus in 2023 for allegedly exporting microelectronics to Russian military manufacturers. Reports from Russian state media indicated that President Vladimir Putin had pardoned Karelina. The exchange took place in Abu Dhabi early Thursday morning, following a discussion initiated by UFC CEO Dana White, who conveyed the request to former President Donald Trump.
Trump confirmed that the release was orchestrated through conversations with Putin, highlighting the ongoing efforts by the US to secure the freedom of its citizens wrongfully detained abroad. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio affirmed Karelina was en route back to America, expressing hopes for the release of other detained Americans. As the Karelina family celebrated her homecoming, they expressed gratitude towards Trump and Putin, emphasizing the emotional reunion they had awaited for over a year.
This prisoner swap marks the second such agreement between the US and Russia in less than two months, following the release of American educator Marc Fogel for Russian national Alexander Vinnik, who faced money laundering charges in the US. Tensions remain high, yet officials from both nations met in Istanbul following the exchange to discuss the resumption of embassy operations reduced after the Ukraine conflict escalated.
Karelina, who pleaded guilty last August, was sentenced to twelve years in prison, based on a single donation of $51 made on the first day of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine on February 22, 2022. Human rights activists pointed out that the charity she contributed to emphasized its commitment to humanitarian and disaster relief efforts, denying any involvement in weapon sourcing. It is believed that the FSB uncovered her donation through phone records.
The exchange involved the US releasing Arthur Petrov, a dual German-Russian citizen apprehended in Cyprus in 2023 for allegedly exporting microelectronics to Russian military manufacturers. Reports from Russian state media indicated that President Vladimir Putin had pardoned Karelina. The exchange took place in Abu Dhabi early Thursday morning, following a discussion initiated by UFC CEO Dana White, who conveyed the request to former President Donald Trump.
Trump confirmed that the release was orchestrated through conversations with Putin, highlighting the ongoing efforts by the US to secure the freedom of its citizens wrongfully detained abroad. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio affirmed Karelina was en route back to America, expressing hopes for the release of other detained Americans. As the Karelina family celebrated her homecoming, they expressed gratitude towards Trump and Putin, emphasizing the emotional reunion they had awaited for over a year.
This prisoner swap marks the second such agreement between the US and Russia in less than two months, following the release of American educator Marc Fogel for Russian national Alexander Vinnik, who faced money laundering charges in the US. Tensions remain high, yet officials from both nations met in Istanbul following the exchange to discuss the resumption of embassy operations reduced after the Ukraine conflict escalated.
