Russian-American, Ksenia Karelina Released in US-Russia Prisoner Swap

Ksenia Karelina, a Los Angeles resident and Russian-American citizen has been released from detention in Russia in a prisoner swap between America and Russia involving Arthur Petrov, a dual Russian-German citizen who was being held in the US on charges of criminal offenses related to export control violations, smuggling, wire fraud and money laundering.

Karelina was sentenced to 12 years imprisonment in early 2024 for donating money to a US-based charity providing humanitarian support to Ukraine and according to US Secretary of State Marco Rubio who confirmed Ms Karelina was “on a plane back home to the United States.”, the prisoner swap took place in Abu Dhabi early on Thursday.

Karelina’s Offense

Ksenia Karelina was convicted of treason in August 2024 after she donated just over $50 to a US-based charity supporting Ukraine. She was initially detained for “petty hooliganism” after being arrested while visiting family in Russia in February 2024, but the charge was later upgraded to treason after accusations that she was acting as an American spy.

Russian authorities claimed that Karelina raised money for the Ukrainian army and took part in “public actions” that supported Ukraine while in the U.S. Those who were part of the exchange negotiations include: CIA Director John Ratcliffe, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Russia’s sovereign wealth fund chief Kirill Dmitriev.

This marks the second high-profile prisoner swap in just two months. In February, Russian national Alexander Vinnik, imprisoned in the United States for money laundering charges, was exchanged for American schoolteacher Marc Fogel, who had been detained in Russia for alleged drug-related offenses.