Ksenia Karelina freed in US-Russia prisoner swap

Ksenia Karelina, a US-Russian dual national and former ballet dancer, has been released from a 12-year prison sentence in Russia after a prisoner swap between the US and Russia in Abu Dhabi. Karelina was convicted of treason for donating $51 to a charity that provides humanitarian aid to Ukraine, a charge that US officials have condemned as 'absolutely ludicrous.' US Secretary of State Marco Rubio confirmed her return, stating she had been wrongfully detained for over a year and attributing her release to efforts by President Trump. In exchange for Karelina's freedom, the US released Arthur Petrov, a dual German-Russian citizen accused of illegal microelectronics exports. Karelina, who immigrated to the US in 2012 and became a citizen in 2021, was arrested during a visit to her family in Russia in early 2024. The case highlights the tense relations between the US and Russia amidst ongoing geopolitical conflicts.