Скачать или смотреть US-Russian dual national Ksenia Karelina is released in prisoner swap between Moscow and Washington

(10 Apr 2025)
FOR CLEAN VERSION SEE STORY NUMBER: 4567765

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ASSOCIATED PRESS
ARCHIVE: Yekaterinburg, Russia - 20 June 2024
1. Various of U.S.-Russian dual national Ksenia Karelina, also identified in the media as Ksenia Khavana, in glass cage in courtroom

ASSOCIATED PRESS
ARCHIVE: Yekaterinburg - 15 August 2024
2. Various of Karelina in glass cage listening to verdict
3. Various of Karelina talking to lawyer

VOICEOVER:

A US-Russian dual citizen imprisoned on treason charges in Russia has been freed in a prisoner exchange with Washington, the woman's lawyer and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio have said.

Ksenia Karelina is “on a plane back home to the United States,” Rubio said in a post on X.

The former ballet dancer was arrested in the Ural Mountains city of Yekaterinburg in February 2024.

She was convicted of treason later that year on charges stemming from a donation of about $52 to a charity aiding Ukraine.

The US authorities have called the case against her “absolutely ludicrous.”
STORYLINE:
A U.S.-Russian dual national jailed in Russia on treason charges was freed Thursday in a prisoner exchange with Washington, the woman's lawyer and U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said.

Ksenia Karelina also identified in the media as Ksenia Khavana, is “on a plane back home to the United States,” Rubio said in a post on X.

She was arrested in the Ural Mountains city of Yekaterinburg in February 2024 and convicted of treason later that year on charges stemming from a donation of about $52 to a charity aiding Ukraine.

The U.S. authorities have called the case against her “absolutely ludicrous.”

Karelina, a former ballet dancer, reportedly obtained U.S. citizenship after marrying an American and moving to Los Angeles.

She was arrested when she returned to Russia to visit her family last year.

Russia’s Federal Security Service, or FSB, said she “proactively collected money in the interests of one of the Ukrainian organizations, which was subsequently used to purchase tactical medical supplies, equipment, weapons, and ammunition for the Ukrainian armed forces.”

The First Department, a Russian rights group, said the charges stemmed from a $51.80 donation to a U.S. charity aiding Ukraine.

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