Russian-American Ballerina Ksenia Karelina Freed in Prisoner Swap

Release of Ksenia Karelina

• 🇺🇸 Ksenia Karelina, a Russian-American dual citizen, has been freed by Moscow after being wrongfully detained for over a year.
• 🤝 The release was confirmed by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and is part of a prisoner swap.
• ✈️ Karelina is reportedly on a plane back to the United States.

Circumstances of Detention

• 🗓️ Karelina was arrested in January 2024 in Yekaterinburg while visiting family.
• 💰 She was accused of donating approximately $50 to a charity supporting Ukraine on the first day of Russia's invasion.
• ⚖️ A court found her guilty of high treason and sentenced her to imprisonment in a penal colony.
• 🇺🇸 Karelina, an amateur ballerina and Los Angeles resident, became a US citizen in 2021.

Prisoner Swap Details

• 🇩🇪 Karelina was exchanged for a German-Russian dual national.
• 🇦🇪 The prisoner swap took place early this morning in the United Arab Emirates.
• 🔄 This marks the second US-Russian prisoner swap in less than two months.
• 🗣️ Karelina's family and loved ones have been vocal in demanding her release, with the Russian side reportedly making it difficult by not recognizing her American citizenship.