Ballerina Ksenia Karelina – jailed in Russia after giving £40 to a charity supporting Ukraine – has been launched as a part of a prisoner swap cope with the US.
The 34-year-old US-Russian citizen was accused of treason when she was arrested in Yekaterinburg, in southwestern Russia, in February final 12 months.
Investigators searched her cell phone and located that she made a $51.80 (£40) donation to Razom, a charity that gives support to Ukraine, on the primary day of Russia’s invasion in 2022.
She admitted the cost at a closed trial within the metropolis in August final 12 months and was later jailed for 12 years.
Mikhail Mushailov, Ms Karelina’s lawyer, stated on Instagram that she had been flown to the US from Abu Dhabi within the United Arab Emirates (UAE) on Thursday.
US secretary of state Marco Rubio added that Ms Karelina “was wrongfully detained by Russia for over a 12 months,” and stated “President Trump secured her launch… (and) will proceed to work for the discharge of ALL People”.
Ms Karelina, an newbie ballerina, was born in Russia however moved to the US in 2012 and have become a citizen in 2021. She had moved to Los Angeles, the place she labored in a spa.
She had been again in Russia visiting household in the beginning of 2024 when she was arrested, in accordance with rights group The First Division.
Russia’s Federal Safety Service (FSB) claimed she had proactively collected the cash within the pursuits of one of many Ukrainian organisations.
It claimed the donation was “used to buy tactical medical provides, tools, weapons and ammunition for the Ukrainian armed forces”.
The charity denies it offers army help to Kyiv, whereas the US authorities have beforehand referred to as the case towards her “completely ludicrous”.
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In change for Ms Karelina’s launch, Arthur Petrov – who was arrested in 2023 for allegedly exporting delicate microelectronics – was launched.
The twin German-Russian citizen was detained in Cyprus on the request of the US.
Final 12 months, the US Justice Division stated that Petrov participated in a scheme to acquire American-sourced microelectronics for producers supplying the Russian army.
