A Russian American ballerina imprisoned in Russia was returned to the United States in a prisoner exchange organized by the CIA and Russia’s Federal Security Service.
Ksenia Karelina, also known as Ksenia Khavana, was arrested while visiting Russia in January 2024 on treason charges. On Thursday, she was exchanged with Arthur Petrov, a dual German Russian citizen arrested in Cyprus in 2023 on charges of using shell companies to export sensitive microelectronics for Russian military use.
Karelina was accused of “proactively” raising funds, “subsequently used to purchase tactical medicine, equipment, weapons, and ammunition by the Ukrainian Armed Forces.” She was sentenced to 12 years in a penal colony after pleading guilty in August.
The Russian-born American citizen disputed the charges, claiming she was only donating funds to humanitarian groups. She once donated $51.80 to the New York-based nonprofit organization Razom. It is unknown if the charges stem from this donation.
CIA Director John Ratcliffe engaged in talks with a senior Russian intelligence official to secure her release. He personally greeted Karelina at Abu Dhabi airport, where the exchange took place, a source familiar with the matter told the Wall Street Journal.
“Today, President Trump brought home another wrongfully detained American from Russia,” Ratcliffe said in a statement. “I’m proud of the CIA officers who worked tirelessly to support this effort, and we appreciate the Government of U.A.E. for enabling the exchange.”
“The exchange shows the importance of keeping lines of communication open with Russia, despite the deep challenges in our bilateral relationship,” a CIA spokeswoman said. “While we are disappointed that other Americans remain wrongfully detained in Russia, we see this exchange as a positive step and will continue to work for their release.”
National security adviser Mike Waltz celebrated the exchange in a Thursday statement.
“Today, the United States welcomes the return of American Russian ballerina Ksenia Karelina,” he said. “President Trump and his administration continue to work around the clock to ensure Americans detained abroad are returned home to their families.”
The exchange is another sign of goodwill between Russia and the U.S., as the latter looks to bring the war in Ukraine to a conclusion.
Karelina was in Russia on a two-week trip visiting her 90-year-old grandmother, parents, and younger sister, as she did at least once per year, when she was arrested.
The Los Angeles resident was passed over in the large prisoner swap involving Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich and former Marine Paul Whelan last year. That swap drew criticism for its inclusion of several Russian opposition figures.
Petrov, the Russian released by the U.S., was arrested in Cyprus in August 2023 and extradited to the U.S. last year. According to the Department of Justice, he worked for LLC Electrocom VPK, a Russian supplier of crucial electronic components for weapons manufacturers.
Petrov and two co-conspirators were accused of using shell companies to obtain Western components for use in Russian weapons. They allegedly used the fraudulent network to acquire over $225,000 of electronic components with military applications.
The electronic devices smuggled were likely used in Russian-guided missiles, drones, and electronic warfare and communications devices.
LOS ANGELES RESIDENT PASSED OVER IN US-RUSSIA PRISONER SWAP PLEADS GUILTY TO TREASON
Petrov was charged with conspiracy to defraud the U.S., conspiracy to violate the Export Control Reform Act, violating the ECRA, conspiracy to smuggle goods from the U.S., smuggling goods from the U.S., conspiracy to commit wire fraud, and conspiracy to commit money fraud.
Thursday’s swap is the second to occur during President Donald Trump’s second term. The first led to the release of U.S. schoolteacher Marc Fogel in February.
