Russia Frees American-Russian Ballerina in Prisoner Exchange With US

Russia and the United States carried out a prisoner exchange in Abu Dhabi, The Wall Street Journal reported on April 10.

Russia released Ksenia Karelina, a US-Russian dual citizen sentenced last year to 12 years in prison for donating $51 to a US-based Ukrainian charity.

In return, the US freed Arthur Petrov, a dual German-Russian national accused of illegally exporting sensitive microelectronics to Russia.

Karelina, who had lived in Los Angeles and worked as an aesthetician at a Beverly Hills spa, was detained in early 2024 after flying to Yekaterinburg to visit family following a New Year’s trip to Istanbul with her boyfriend. She was initially held for several hours before being arrested by Russian authorities. The US formally designated her as wrongfully detained in October.

“Today, the United States welcomes the return of American-Russian ballerina Ksenia Karelina,” said National Security Adviser Mike Waltz.

“President Trump and his administration continue to work around the clock to ensure Americans detained abroad are returned home to their families.”

Petrov had been accused of using a Cyprus-based front company to purchase small quantities of US-made microelectronics and integrated circuits, allegedly disguising them as commercial fire safety equipment before re-routing them to a military supplier in St. Petersburg. His case was still pending at the time of the swap.

The deal was brokered by CIA Director John Ratcliffe, who was on the ground for the exchange.

“Today, President Trump brought home another wrongfully detained American from Russia,” Ratcliffe said in a statement to The Wall Street Journal.

“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.”

This marks the second such exchange since Trump returned to office in January.

According to WSJ, intelligence officials on both sides have been maintaining quiet but regular contact amid broader diplomatic deadlock.

Earlier, Russian cybercrime kingpin Alexander Vinnik, released from a US prison in a prisoner exchange, has returned to Moscow.

Vinnik was released in exchange for former US Embassy staffer Mark Fogel.

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