American citizen Ksenia Karelina has been freed from Russian imprisonment following a rare prisoner swap between the United States and Russia, Secretary of State Marco Rubio confirmed on Thursday. Karelina, a dual citizen, was sentenced to 12 years in jail after a conviction related to a humanitarian donation of about $50 made to a charity supporting Ukraine.
Rubio stated that Karelina was "on a plane back home to the United States" after being wrongfully detained for over a year. He credited former President Trump for securing her release. The Wall Street Journal was the first to break the news, highlighting that the prisoner exchange occurred in Abu Dhabi, marking a critical moment amid ongoing diplomatic discussions between US and Russian officials.
Discussions in Turkey aimed at restoring direct flights and normalizing embassy operations contributed to the backdrop of this release. This latest development follows a similar precedent; in February, Russian authorities released American teacher Marc Fogel, imprisoned on drug charges. That exchange involved a trade for Alexander Vinnik, a Russian conviced of money laundering and was facilitated by Trump’s envoy, Steve Witkoff.
Such developments may indicate an unexpected shift in the previously fraught relations between Washington and Moscow, highlighting the complexities of international diplomacy and humanitarian efforts.
