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Prisoner Swap Between Russia and the US Leads to Release of Ksenia Karelina
A citizen of dual Russian-American nationality has been liberated as part of a recent prisoner exchange between Moscow and Washington, marking a significant event amid ongoing tensions between the two nations.
Ksenia Karelina, an amateur ballerina and resident of Los Angeles, had spent over a year imprisoned in Russia. She was apprehended in Yekaterinburg in early 2024 and subsequently charged with treason for her contributions to a US-based charity delivering humanitarian aid to Ukraine. The court sentenced her to 12 years in a penal colony, a move that drew international concern regarding her detention.
In return, the United States reportedly freed Arthur Petrov, a dual German-Russian citizen who was arrested in Cyprus in 2023. He faced allegations of illicitly exporting microelectronics to Russia, which were intended for use by manufacturers associated with the Russian military.
The exchange took place in Abu Dhabi during the early hours of Thursday, highlighting the complex diplomatic channels that are often utilized in such negotiations. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio confirmed that Karelina was on a flight back home to the United States, describing her as “wrongfully detained by Russia for over a year.” He emphasized the administration’s commitment to securing the release of all Americans held abroad.
Furthermore, Rubio noted the involvement of CIA Director John Ratcliffe during the exchange, reflecting the high-level attention surrounding the case. This incident marks the second prisoner swap between Russia and the US in a short span of time, underscoring an ongoing series of negotiations aimed at repatriating detained individuals in each country.
In a prior exchange in February, Russian national Alexander Vinnik, who was incarcerated in a US prison on money laundering charges, was released in return for American schoolteacher Marc Fogel. Such exchanges highlight the continuing complexities and sensitivities in US-Russia relations amid broader geopolitical tensions.
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