The Russian-American dancer Ksenia Karelina was released from Kremlin’s custody in an exchange of prisoners with the United States on Thursday morning, according to a new report.
Karelina was released in exchange for Arthur Petrov Alemán-Ruso in an exchange in Abu Dhabi, the Wall Street Journal reported.
The double citizen SPA worker was accused of betrayal against the Russian government when she donated $ 51 to a charity that allegedly supported Ukraine on February 24, 2022, the day the Russian forces launched their attack against their western neighbor.
Supposedly “transferred funds in the interest of a Ukrainian organization, which were used subsequently for the purchase of articles of tactical medicine, equipment, means of defeat and ammunition by the Armed Forces of Ukraine.”
She was sentenced to 12 years in a criminal colony for crimes in August.
Petrov was arrested in Cyprus in 2023 for illegally exporting microelectronics with American military applications to Russia, the Department of Justice alleged.
The secret conversations between Russia and the United States were headed by the director of the CIA, John Ratcliffe, and a senior Russian intelligence official, the Wall Street Journal reported citing a source of the CIA.
“Today, President Trump brought another American from Russia in Russia home,” Ratcliffe told The Outlet. “I am proud of the CIA officers who worked tirelessly to support this effort, and we appreciate the Eau Government for enabling the exchange.”
Ksenia’s boyfriend, Chris Van Heerdan, revealed to the post that he was ready to propose to his girlfriend before being arrested.
“I was going to ask the question,” an emotional Van Heerdan, 37, told The Post. “But my plans were derailed.”
Van Heerdan defended Ksenia’s donation when his actions were done on American soil.
“The point is that she did not do it in Russia as a Russian citizen. She did this in the United States, as an American citizen,” he said.
