Russia launched U.S.-Russian twin nationwide Ksenia Karelina in a prisoner trade with the USA early Thursday in Abu Dhabi, U.S. officers showed.
“American Ksenia Karelina is on a aircraft again house to the USA,” Secretary of State Marco Rubio wrote on X. “She used to be wrongfully detained by means of Russia for over a yr and President Trump secured her liberate.”
Previous, the Wall Boulevard Magazine reported that Karelina used to be swapped for Arthur Petrov, a German-Russian twin nationwide arrested in Cyprus in 2023 on the request of U.S. government for allegedly exporting delicate U.S.-made microelectronics to Russia.
Karelina, a resident of Los Angeles, used to be arrested in January 2024 whilst visiting circle of relatives within the Russian town of Yekaterinburg. She used to be to begin with charged with “petty hooliganism,” however government later accused her of treason, pronouncing she had donated round $50 to a Ukrainian charity.
In August, a Russian court docket sentenced Karelina to twelve years in jail. Her attraction used to be denied within the fall.
The CIA performed a central function in brokering Thursday’s trade, in line with WSJ, which used to be the primary to wreck the tale. CIA Director John Ratcliffe used to be stated to have performed negotiations with Federal Safety Provider (FSB) head Alexander Bortnikov and used to be provide on the Abu Dhabi airport for the handover.
“Lately, President Trump introduced house every other wrongfully detained American from Russia,” WSJ quoted Ratcliffe as pronouncing in a remark. “I’m pleased with the CIA officials who labored tirelessly to improve this effort, and we recognize the Govt of U.A.E. for enabling the trade.”
Ratcliffe had reportedly spoken more than one occasions with Bortnikov, in addition to with Sergei Naryshkin, head of Russia’s Overseas Intelligence Provider (SVR), since changing into CIA director. Bortnikov used to be additionally considering remaining yr’s negotiations to liberate WSJ reporter Evan Gershkovich, the newspaper stated.
Russia’s FSB informed the state-run TASS information company afterward Thursday that President Vladimir Putin pardoned Karelina, confirming that she used to be exchanged with Petrov at Abu Dhabi World Airport.
Karelina’s legal professional Mikhail Mushailov additionally showed with the RBC information outlet that his shopper used to be launched from police custody in Russia and used to be already in conversation along with her oldsters.
The Kremlin declined to remark at the trade, state media reported.
In keeping with assets cited by means of WSJ, Karelina is one among a number of American citizens and Russian-U.S. twin voters arrested in Russia that U.S. officers had been discussing with Russian opposite numbers.
Thursday’s reported change marks the second one such trade between Washington and Moscow since U.S. President Donald Trump took place of job previous this yr.
In February, the U.S. secured the discharge of Marc Fogel, an American instructor jailed in Russia on drug fees, in go back for Russian cryptocurrency determine Alexander Vinnik.
The Trump management hailed the discharge of Fogel as a good step for international relations and a possible opening for long run talks on finishing the conflict in Ukraine.
