Ksenia Karelina, US-Russia dual national convicted of treason, freed in prisoner swap between Moscow and Washington

On April 10, 2025, Ksenia Karelina, a US-Russia dual national, was freed in a high-profile prisoner swap between Moscow and Washington. Karelina had been imprisoned in Russia for over a year after being convicted of treason, following her donation of $52 to a Ukrainian charity. In exchange for her release, the US freed Arthur Petrov, a Russian national accused of smuggling sensitive microelectronics to Russia, who had been detained in the US since 2024.

Karelina’s arrest in February 2024 had sparked international outrage, particularly in the US, where many viewed the charges against her as politically motivated. Russian authorities had claimed that her donation was part of a larger effort to support Ukraine’s military, while US officials condemned the charge as “absolutely ludicrous.”


The prisoner exchange took place in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, a neutral location that has played a key role in previous US-Russia exchanges. Karelina was seen at the airport in Abu Dhabi, where she was reunited with US diplomats and officials. Photos showed her standing alongside Yousef al-Otaiba, the UAE ambassador to the US, shortly before boarding a private jet to return to the US.

The UAE has increasingly become a mediator in high-stakes diplomatic exchanges between Russia and the US, including the notable 2022 swap of basketball player Brittney Griner for arms dealer Viktor Bout.

Upon hearing of Karelina’s release, her fiancé, professional boxer Chris van Heerden, expressed his immense relief, stating, “I’m overjoyed to hear that the love of my life is on her way home from wrongful detention in Russia. She has endured a nightmare for 15 months, and I cannot wait to hold her.”

Karelina’s case had attracted widespread attention, with calls for her release from human rights groups and public figures, including UFC President Dana White, who advocated for her freedom. President Donald Trump also expressed gratitude for her return, saying, “They released the young ballerina and she is now out, and that was good.”


This prisoner swap is the latest in a series of exchanges between the US and Russia aimed at improving bilateral relations. The most high-profile of these swaps was in December 2022, when US basketball star Brittney Griner was exchanged for Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout. The timing of Karelina’s release coincides with ongoing talks between US and Russian diplomats, including recent discussions in Istanbul focused on stabilizing diplomatic relations and addressing issues like embassy staffing and property disputes.

The release of Karelina signals a potential shift in US-Russia relations, which have been tense since the start of the war in Ukraine. While the countries remain deeply divided on many issues, prisoner exchanges have provided a rare avenue for cooperation.


Karelina, who had lived in Maryland before moving to Los Angeles, was arrested when she returned to Russia to visit her family. Her arrest and subsequent conviction highlighted the increasingly tense atmosphere between the US and Russia, where citizens with dual nationalities have become targets of political maneuvering.

Now free, Karelina’s return marks a symbolic moment in the broader context of US-Russia relations, with both countries having engaged in tense negotiations in the pursuit of diplomatic stability.