Russia frees U.S. dual national Ksenia Karelina in prisoner swap

Ksenia Karelina, a Russian-American woman serving a 12-year treason sentence in Russia, was released as part of a prisoner exchange with an alleged smuggler in the United States.

Ksenia Karelina, an American, was serving a 12-year sentence in Russia after being convicted of treason for giving around $50 to a charity organization that provides support to Ukraine. She also has Russian citizenship.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated on Thursday that Ms. Karelina, 33, was "on a plane back home to the United States."

“She was wrongfully detained by Russia for over a year and President Trump secured her release,” he wrote on X.

He stated that the president will "continue to work for the release of ALL Americans."

Karelina was exchanged for Arthur Petrov, a dual Russian-German citizen being held in the United States on charges of export control violations, smuggling, wire fraud, and money laundering, according to Russian state news agencies citing the Russian security agency, the FSB.

Petrov was detained in Cyprus in August 2023 at the request of the US, and he was extradited to the US in August 2024. He was 33 at the time.

The Justice Department alleges that Petrov was smuggling US-made microelectronics into Russia, where they were utilized to create weapons and other military equipment.

The prisoner swap demonstrated Moscow and Washington's willingness to engage in substantive diplomacy even as Trump administration-led discussions on a potential cease-fire in Ukraine look to be deadlocked.

It happened as US and Russian officials gathered in Turkey to explore practical ways to repair relations, such as resuming direct flights and increasing embassy personnel levels.

The C.I.A. claimed to have played a crucial part in the swap. It said in a statement that the exchange was negotiated with other partners, including the United Arab Emirates, and showed “the importance of keeping lines of communication open with Russia” despite challenges.

The UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs acknowledged the transaction occurred in Abu Dhabi on Thursday. According to the ministry, the fact that Russia and the US picked Abu Dhabi for the transfer reflects "the close friendship between them and the UAE."

“Today, President Trump brought home another wrongfully detained American from Russia,” the agency’s director, John Ratcliffe, said in a statement. “I’m proud of the C.I.A. officers who worked tirelessly to support this effort.”

It was unclear if Thursday's discussion would signal further diplomatic successes between the US and Russia. Despite a flurry of high-profile talks in recent weeks, numerous major topics under negotiation remain unsolved, including the repatriation of diplomatic property and the status of sanctions.

Karelina's release is the second time an American citizen has been released from Russian custody since Trump took office. Marc Fogel, an American instructor who had been held in Russia for more than three years, was finally freed in February. He was traded for Alexander Vinnik, an alleged Russian money launderer.

On Thursday, a Russian source familiar with the prisoner swap stated that the "Marc Fogel exchange in February created additional trust and enhanced cooperation in prisoner exchanges with President Trump's team."

The US is following more than a half-dozen Americans imprisoned in Russia, according to a US official. Among them is Stephen Hubbard, who the US has formally recognized to have been illegally incarcerated. Hubbard, 72, was sentenced to six years and ten months in Russian jail last year after allegedly fighting as a mercenary for Ukraine.