A federal grand jury in Boston has indicted Kseniia Petrova, a Russian researcher affiliated with Harvard Medical School, on charges of smuggling goods into the United States and providing false information to customs officials. The indictment, issued on Wednesday, follows an incident on February 16 when Petrova returned from a vacation in France with undeclared samples of frog embryos, which she brought at the request of her Harvard supervisor.
Petrova's detention sparked international concern, as she spent over three months in an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detention facility. Her case has drawn attention from the academic community, highlighting fears about the treatment of noncitizen researchers. Critics argue that the government's aggressive stance sends a troubling signal to foreign academics.
The grand jury found sufficient evidence to charge Petrova, 31, with three felonies. The most severe of the charges—smuggling—could result in a prison sentence of up to 20 years, alongside a fine of up to $250,000. The other two charges, relating to concealing material facts and making false statements, carry separate potential penalties of up to five years and fines of $250,000 each.
While acknowledging that she neglected to declare the embryos, Petrova’s lawyer contends that such an oversight is typically treated as a minor issue, often resulting in a monetary fine. However, after the customs official revoked her visa and initiated deportation proceedings, Petrova expressed fears for her safety if she were to return to Russia, where she claims to have fled due to political reasons. After her protests, she was transferred to an ICE facility in Louisiana.
Earlier this year, U.S. District Court Chief Judge Christina Reiss expressed doubt about the government's basis for deporting Petrova, stating, “there does not seem to be either a factual or legal basis for the immigration officer’s actions” concerning her visa revocation. The case continues to evolve against the backdrop of significant public interest and legal scrutiny.
