Russian-American Citizen Freed in U.S.-Russia Prisoner Exchange

A Russian-American citizen has been released in a high-profile prisoner swap between Moscow and Washington.

Ksenia Karelina, known for her passion for ballet, had been imprisoned in Russia for over a year. She was arrested in early 2024 in Yekaterinburg. The Los Angeles resident faced charges of treason for donating funds to a U.S.-based charity that provided humanitarian aid to Ukraine, leading to a 12-year sentence in a penal colony.

In return for Karelina’s freedom, the United States released Arthur Petrov, a dual German-Russian national detained in Cyprus in 2023. Petrov faced allegations of illegally exporting microelectronics to Russian manufacturers involved with the military.

The exchange occurred in Abu Dhabi during the early hours of Thursday.

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio confirmed Karelina’s homeward journey, stating she was “wrongfully detained by Russia for over a year.”

“President Trump secured her release. He is committed to working for the freedom of all Americans,” Rubio emphasized.

CIA Director John Ratcliffe was present at the exchange, the Wall Street Journal reported.

This is the second prisoner exchange between Russia and the United States in under two months.

In February, another swap saw Russian national Alexander Vinnik - jailed in the U.S. on money laundering charges - exchanged for American schoolteacher Marc Fogel.