A U.S.-Russian dual national who was imprisoned in Russia on treason charges has been freed in a prisoner exchange with Washington, according to reports from the woman’s lawyer and U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
Ksenia Karelina, also known as Ksenia Khavana, was arrested in Yekaterinburg in February 2024 and later convicted of treason for allegedly donating around $52 to a charity aiding Ukraine. The U.S. authorities have denounced the charges against her as “absolutely ludicrous.” Karelina, a former ballet dancer, had obtained U.S. citizenship after marrying an American and moving to Los Angeles. She was arrested upon her return to Russia to visit her family.
The prisoner exchange took place in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, where Karelina was handed over to U.S. authorities. CIA director John Ratcliffe, who was present at the exchange, expressed his gratitude to the UAE for facilitating the process.
In exchange for Karelina, the U.S. reportedly freed Arthur Petrov, a dual German-Russian citizen who had been arrested in Cyprus in 2023 for allegedly exporting sensitive microelectronics to Russia. Petrov was extradited to the U.S. in August 2024 to face charges of export control violations, smuggling, wire fraud, and money laundering.
Abu Dhabi has been a key location for high-profile prisoner swaps between Russia and the United States. In a previous exchange in December 2022, American basketball star Brittney Griner was traded for Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout.
The UAE has played a role as a mediator in prisoner swaps between Russia and Ukraine, with many Russians and Ukrainians seeking refuge in Dubai after the onset of Moscow’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. The recent prisoner exchange highlights the ongoing tensions between Russia and the United States, as well as the diplomatic efforts to secure the release of individuals caught in the crossfire.
