American Ballerina Released From Russia After Prisoner Exchange
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In a significant diplomatic breakthrough, Russian-American citizen Ksenia Karelina has returned to American soil following a prisoner exchange with Russia that took place in Abu Dhabi. The swap involved trading Karelina for German-Russian national Arthur Petrov.
The release was confirmed by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who stated, “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. President will continue to work for the release of ALL Americans.”
Karelina’s ordeal began in January 2024 during a family visit to Yekaterinburg when Russian authorities arrested her. The charges stemmed from a $51 donation she made to a Ukraine-supporting charity on February 24, 2022, coinciding with Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Russian officials claimed the funds were used to supply military equipment to Ukrainian forces, leading to her conviction and a 12-year penal colony sentence.
US-Russian ballet dancer Ksenia Karelina, who had been detained in Russia for 12 years on treason charges, has been released and is flying to the United States, according to the top US diplomat, with her lawyer saying she was part of a prisoner exchange agreed between Moscow and… pic.twitter.com/6WvkNLpKnl
— AFP News Agency (@AFP) April 10, 2025
The exchange partner, Petrov, faced charges in Cyprus for allegedly circumventing sanctions to supply Russia with military-grade electronics. FBI Assistant Director in Charge James Smith explained, “After Russia’s further invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, we allege Petrov participated in a global scheme to use shell companies from around the world to establish a clandestine procurement network and supply Russia’s military industrial complex with critical US technology, including types of microelectronics recovered in Russian military equipment on the battlefield in Ukraine.”
The delicate negotiations were managed by CIA Director John Ratcliffe and high-ranking Russian intelligence officials. Ratcliffe expressed satisfaction with the outcome, stating, “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.”
"She's on her way home! It's unbelievable, it's a miracle…"@MegynKelly on Trump freeing an American ballerina from Russia after her boyfriend's @MegynKellyShow interview on Monday.
Watch below:https://t.co/F96HgI7HIW pic.twitter.com/FmSzqXqY82
— The Megyn Kelly Show (@MegynKellyShow) April 10, 2025
The personal toll of Karelina’s detention was evident in her boyfriend Chris Van Heerdan’s emotional revelations. The 37-year-old had planned to propose before her arrest. “I was going to pop the question,” he shared, “But my plans were derailed.” Van Heerdan emphasized that Karelina’s charitable donation was made as an American citizen on US territory.
Before her release, Van Heerdan had expressed hope in Trump’s ability to secure her freedom, stating, “My message is simple: Ksenia is proud to be an American citizen and loves America very much. I beg President Trump to bring Ksenia home; she is not doing well, and each day in prison is a day longer in recovering from this nightmare. Please bring Ksenia home.”
This success follows Trump’s administration’s previous prisoner exchange in February, which secured American teacher Marc Fogel’s release. Fogel had been detained in Moscow for possessing what he maintained was legally prescribed marijuana.
