A United States ballerina imprisoned for 12 years in Russia after contributing $51 to a charity supporting Ukraine has actually been released.
Ksenia Karelina was apprehended in Yekaterinburg in February in 2015 after going back to Russia to visit her household.
On Thursday, Secretary of State Marco Rubio verified she had actually been launched and was on an aircraft home to the U.S. in a post on X.
Karelina was released as part of a detainee exchange in between the U.S. and Russia, worked out in between the CIA and senior Russian intelligence authorities.
Russian President Vladimir Putin pardoned Karelina before the swap, according to Russia’s Federal Security Service, the FSB.
Her aircraft left Abu Dhabi airport, where the exchange happened, early in the early morning, her Russian attorney Mikhail Mushailov stated.
The UAE has a history of brokering detainee swaps in between Russia and Ukraine, in addition to supervising another Russia-U.S. prominent swap in Abu Dhabi in December 2022.
” We reveal our thankfulness to the UAE management for their help,” the FSB stated.
Lots Of Russians and Ukrainians left to Dubai after the start of Moscow’s 2022 major intrusion of Ukraine.
” Today, President Trump brought home another wrongfully apprehended American from Russia,” CIA Director John Ratcliffe informed the Wall Street Journal.
” I take pride in the CIA officers who worked relentlessly to support this effort, and we value the Federal government of U.A.E. for making it possible for the exchange.”
Karelina got United States citizenship in 2021 after briefly weding an American and transferring to Los Angeles, where she operated at a day spa.
Russia’s FSB had actually implicated Karelina of “proactively” gathering funds for a company which would purchase ammo, medical materials and weapons for the Ukrainian army. The charity, Razom for Ukraine, stated its contributions just go to humanitarian jobs.
The charges originated from a $51.80 contribution to the New York-based charity, according to the Russian rights group The First Department, after FSB representatives checked her phone.
In the closed trial, Karelina pleaded guilty to treason, intending to get a lighter sentence, her attorney formerly stated.
The U.S. authorities called the case versus her “definitely ridiculous”.
Arthur Petrov, a double German-Russian person, was released in exchange for Karelina.
He was apprehended in Cyprus in 2023 at the demand of the United States for presumably exporting delicate microelectronics based on U.S. export controls, for a Russian military provider.
He was extradited to the U.S. in August 2024 and dealt with charges of smuggling, cash laundering, wire scams and export control offenses.
The swap follows Karelina’s partner, previous fighter champ Chris Van Heerden, promoted for her release on The Megyn Kelly Program on Wednesday.
Van Heerden stated American movie director Peter Berg and Ultimate Battling Champion President Dana White campaigned for her return, consisting of telephoning to the United States federal government.
” I am pleased to hear that the love of my life, Ksenia Karelina, is on her method home from wrongful detention in Russia,” Van Heerden stated in a different declaration. “She has actually withstood a headache for 15 months and I can not wait to hold her. Our pet, Boots, is likewise excitedly awaiting her return.”