Russian-American woman Ksenia Karelina, who was imprisoned in Russia for more than a year on charges of financially supporting Ukraine’s military, was released in a prisoner exchange and returned to the United States. Karelina, a former ballerina living in Los Angeles, was arrested in Russia in February 2024 and sentenced to 12 years for “high treason” due to a $51.80 donation to a charity that aids Ukraine. The Russian legal group and U.S. spa where Karelina worked confirmed the reason for her arrest. Upon her return to the U.S., Karelina was greeted by people and visibly happy. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated that she was wrongfully detained by Russia. The Federal Security Service of Russia claimed that the donation was used to purchase supplies for the Ukrainian armed forces. Karelina was released in a prisoner exchange, along with Russian national Arthur Petrov, who was arrested in Cyprus in 2023 at the request of the U.S. for allegedly exporting sensitive microelectronics. The exchange took place following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022, which was widely condemned by the international community. Karelina’s return to the United States was a relief after a year-long ordeal in a Russian prison.
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