Ballerina Ksenia Karelina Returns to US in Prisoner Exchange with Russia

Russian-American ballerina Ksenia Karelina, detained in Russia since early 2024, is en route back to the United States, according to a statement released early Thursday, as per Fox News.

Karelina had been sentenced to 12 years in a Russian prison after donating approximately $50 to a Ukrainian charity.

According to a report by The Wall Street Journal, Karelina’s release was secured in exchange for Arthur Petrov, a dual German-Russian citizen.

Petrov was arrested in Cyprus in 2023 at the request of the US on charges related to the export of sensitive microelectronics. The US government has not yet released an official statement on the details of the exchange.