Russian-American Ballerina Ksenia Karelina Released in Prisoner Swap After Serving 12 Years – One America News Network
OAN Staff James Meyers
8:42 AM – Thursday, April 10, 2025
Ksenia Karelina, a Russian-American ballerina, was released from custody in Russia as part of a prisoner exchange with the United States on Thursday morning.
Advertisement
As reported by the Wall Street Journal, Karelina was exchanged for Arthur Petrov in a swap that took place in Abu Dhabi.
“American Ksenia Karelina is on a plane back home to the United States,” stated Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
“She was wrongfully detained by Russia for over a year, and President Trump worked to secure her release. @POTUS aims to facilitate the release of ALL Americans,” he continued.
Karelina faced treason charges after donating $51 to a charity claimed to support Ukraine on February 24, 2022, coinciding with Russia’s initiation of its military invasion.
The dual-citizen spa worker allegedly “transferred funds in the interests of a Ukrainian organization, which were then utilized for the acquisition of tactical medical supplies, equipment, and munitions by the Armed Forces of Ukraine.”
Her arrest by Russian authorities occurred in January 2024 while she was visiting family in Yekaterinburg, a city located 1,100 miles southeast of Moscow.
Karelina received a sentence of 12 years in a penal colony in August.
Petrov was apprehended in Cyprus in 2023 for unlawfully exporting microelectronics intended for military use to Russia, according to allegations made by the DOJ.
“Following Russia’s further invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, we assert that Petrov engaged in a global scheme using shell companies to clandestinely procure critical U.S. technology for Russia’s military industry, including microelectronics found in Russian military equipment on the battlefield in Ukraine,” remarked James Smith, FBI Assistant Director in Charge.
Negotiations between the U.S. and Russia were facilitated by CIA Director John Ratcliffe and a senior Russian intelligence official, as reported by the Wall Street Journal.
“Today, President Trump brought home another wrongfully detained American from Russia,” Ratcliffe commented to the publication. “I commend the CIA personnel who diligently supported this initiative and express gratitude to the UAE government for facilitating the exchange.”
The CIA indicated that while the swap demonstrates communication with Russia, there remain hopes of securing additional releases alongside Karelina.
“Despite our disappointment that other Americans still remain wrongfully detained in Russia, we view this exchange as a constructive development and will persist in working for their release,” a CIA spokesperson conveyed to the media.
The New York Post reported that Karelina’s boyfriend, Chris Van Heerdan, had planned to propose to her prior to her arrest.
“I intended to pop the question,” an emotional Van Heerdan, 37, expressed to the New York Post. “However, my plans were disrupted.”
Van Heerdan defended Karelina’s donation, emphasizing that it occurred on American soil.
“The fact is she did not carry out this action in Russia as a Russian citizen. She conducted it in America, as an American citizen,” he stated.
Prior to her release, Karelina’s boyfriend maintained a positive outlook regarding the potential for her release by the Trump administration.
“I am very hopeful and optimistic about the new Trump administration and believe he can achieve her release soon,” he remarked.
“My message is straightforward: Ksenia takes pride in being an American citizen and deeply loves America. I implore President Trump to bring her home; she is struggling, and each day she spends in prison prolongs her recovery from this ordeal. Please bring Ksenia home.”
Karelina’s release follows a prior negotiation by the Trump administration that secured the freedom of American teacher Marc Fogel from Russian custody in February. Fogel had been arrested in August 2021 for possessing what he claimed was legally prescribed marijuana at an airport near Moscow.
Stay updated! Get breaking news alerts directly in your inbox for free. Subscribe here: https://www.oann.com/alerts
Advertisements below