Ksenia Karelina is a Russian-American former ballerina born in Yekaterinburg, Russia in 1991 before moving to the U.S. in 2012. She resided in Los Angeles for nine years before becoming a citizen in 2021. After arriving in the U.S. she took up an aesthetician position at a Los Angeles spa and has worked there since.
Last year Karelina was charged with high treason in a Russian court and has spent over a year in prison. This “treason” was a $51.80 donation to a U.S. charity that sends aid to Ukraine. Karelina’s donation “was subsequently used to purchase tactical medical supplies, equipment, weapons, and ammunition for the Ukrainian armed forces,” according to Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB).
Her imprisonment started at the beginning of Russia’s full-fledged attack against Ukrainian territory when the Russian government cracked down on dissent against the Russian government. Karelina was arrested in February 2024 before she was sentenced to 12 years penal colony after she “fully admitted her guilt” in August.
Despite the 12-year sentence, Karelina was released this past Thursday, April 17 — the first report of it being by Wall Street Journal. Part of this swap was the return of Arthur Petrov, a German-Russian citizen who was arrested in Cyprus back in 2023 due to the U.S.’s request. Petrov was arrested due to him allegedly exporting sensitive microelectronics. The FBS confirmed the swap in a statement.
A spokesperson for the CIA said, “Much of the swap was negotiated by the U.S. government, with CIA playing a key role engaging with Russian intelligence.”
Karelina was reunited with her boyfriend Chris van Heerdan, a UFC fighter, when she returned to Washington. At the same time, Petrov was seen being led toward a Russian plane where he received medical attention.
This release comes just two months after the Russian government released Marc Fogel, an American schoolteacher, who was wrongfully arrested for carrying small amounts of medical marijuana in a Russian airport. Fogel’s release was “described as a diplomatic thaw that could advance negotiations to end the war in Ukraine” according to AP News.
Karelina’s return and the successful swap between the prisoners shows the continuation of a successful relationship between the White House and the Russian government in future negotiations.
While this was successful, there are still well over 10 Americans being held in Russian prison for varying offenses. These prisoners include Daniel Joseph Schneider, who was arrested for kidnapping his four-year son by attempting to bring him to the U.S. without his mother’s permission, Stephen James Habbard, a 73 year old man accused of mercenary acts against Russians and many more.
rcassio@ramapo.edu
Featured photo courtesy of @Pashabutorin, X
