Russian-American ballerina released from Russian penal colony in latest prisoner swap with U.S.

Russian-American ballerina Ksenia Karelina was released Thursday from a Russian penal colony in the latest prisoner swap between Moscow and Washington.

Ms. Karelina was freed in exchange for Arthur Petrov, a Russian-German national who was arrested in August 2023 in Cyprus at the request of the U.S. He is accused of exporting sensitive microelectronics to manufacturers supplying weapons and equipment to the Russian military.

“American Ksenia Karelina is on a plane back home to the United States,” Secretary of State Marco Rubio posted on X. “She was wrongfully detained by Russia for over a year and President Trump secured her release. @POTUS will continue to work for the release of ALL Americans.”

Chris Van Heerde, Ms. Karelina’s fiance, issued a statement hailing her release.

“I am overjoyed to hear that the love of my life, Ksenia Karelina is on her way home from wrongful detention in Russia. She has endured a nightmare for 15 months, and I cannot wait to hold her. Our dog, Boots, is also eagerly awaiting her return,” he said, expressing his gratitude toward Mr. Trump.

Ms. Karelina, a dual-citizen and spa worker, was accused of treason against the Russian government because she donated $51 to a charity that allegedly supported Ukraine on Feb. 24, 2002, the same day Russia invaded Ukraine. U.S. authorities have called her case “absolutely ludicrous.”

She allegedly “transferred funds in the interests of a Ukrainian organization, which were subsequently used for the purchase of tactical medicine items, equipment, means of defeat and ammunition by the Armed Forces of Ukraine,” according to Russian authorities.

She was arrested in January 2024 while on a monthlong visit to her family in Yekaterinburg, a Russian city 1,100 miles east of Moscow. A Russian court sentenced her to 12 years in a penal colony in August.

Russian and U.S. diplomats met Thursday in Istanbul for another round of talks on improving diplomatic ties. The discussion ended after six hours without statements from the delegations, according to Russian state news agencies Tass and RIA Novosti.

Her case had been championed by Ultimate Fighting Championship CEO Dana White, who is an ardent Trump supporter; movie director Peter Berg; and journalists Chris Cuomo and Megyn Kelly — each of whom was instrumental in bringing the case to Mr. Trump’s attention.

The prisoner swap is the second between Washington and Moscow in as many months. In February, Russia released American teacher Marc Fogel in exchange for Russian cybercrime kingpin Alexander Vinnik.

That same month, Russia released Kalob Byers, who was detained at Moscow’s airport after customs officials allegedly found cannabis-laced marmalade in his baggage. He was being held in Russia on drug smuggling charges, punishable by a prison term of up to 10 years.