A Russian-American lady freed by Moscow arrived again in the US late Thursday as a part of a prisoner swap accomplished as the 2 nations intention to restore ties.
A aircraft carrying Ksenia Karelina landed round 11 p.m. at Joint Base Andrews, the place she was greeted by her fiancé.
Morgan Ortagus, President Donald Trump’s deputy particular envoy to the Center East, introduced her with a bouquet.
She was launched earlier within the day in alternate for a Russian-German man who’d been jailed within the US on smuggling prices.
Karelina was arrested within the Ural Mountains metropolis of Yekaterinburg in February 2024 and convicted of treason on prices stemming from a donation of about $52 to a charity aiding Ukraine.
US authorities have referred to as the case “completely ludicrous.”
“They launched the younger ballerina and she or he is now out, and that was good. So we respect that,” President Donald Trump mentioned at a Cupboard assembly Thursday. He mentioned the discharge adopted conversations with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Arthur Petrov was launched as a part of the swap in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, in line with the Federal Safety Service, or FSB, Russia’s essential safety and counterintelligence company.
Petrov was arrested in Cyprus in August 2023 on the request of the US on prices of smuggling delicate microelectronics to Russia and extradited to the US a yr later.
Karelina was amongst a rising variety of Individuals arrested in Russia lately as tensions between Moscow and Washington spiked over the struggle in Ukraine.
Her launch is the most recent in a sequence of high-profile prisoner exchanges Russia and the US carried out within the final three years — and the second since Trump took workplace and reversed Washington’s coverage of isolating Russia in an effort to finish the struggle in Ukraine.
CIA Director John Ratcliffe hailed “the CIA officers who labored tirelessly to assist this effort.” The CIA additionally emphasised that “the alternate reveals the significance of conserving traces of communication open with Russia, regardless of the deep challenges in our bilateral relationship.”
In the meantime, Russian and US diplomats met in Istanbul for a second spherical of talks on normalizing embassies’ work, following the primary such assembly in February. The State Division mentioned the delegations “exchanged notes to finalize an understanding to make sure the steadiness of diplomatic banking for Russian and US bilateral missions.”
It mentioned the US reiterated its considerations concerning the Russian ban on hiring of native workers, “the important thing obstacle to sustaining for steady and sustainable staffing ranges on the US Embassy in Moscow.”
Alexander Darchiyev, Russia’s ambassador to Washington, who led Moscow’s delegation within the talks, praised their “constructive environment” and famous the events agreed to proceed discussions to facilitate diplomats’ journey.
He added that the Russian aspect additionally pushed for a fast return of its diplomatic property seized by US authorities.
In February, Russia launched American trainer Marc Fogel, imprisoned on drug prices, in a swap that the White Home described as a part of a diplomatic thaw that would advance peace negotiations.
That very same month, Russia launched one other American simply days after arresting him on drug smuggling prices.
Karelina, a former ballet dancer additionally recognized in some media as Ksenia Khavana, lived in Maryland earlier than transferring to Los Angeles. She was arrested when she returned to Russia to go to her household final yr.
The FSB accused her of “proactively” amassing cash for a Ukrainian group that was supplying gear to Kyiv’s forces.
The First Division, a Russian rights group, mentioned the fees stemmed from a $51.80 donation to a US charity aiding Ukraine.
“I’m overjoyed to listen to that the love of my life, Ksenia Karelina is on her method residence from wrongful detention in Russia,” Karelina’s fiancé, skilled boxer Chris van Heerden, mentioned in an announcement. “She has endured a nightmare for 15 months and I can not wait to carry her. Our canine, Boots, can also be eagerly awaiting her return.”
He thanked Trump and his envoys, in addition to outstanding public figures who had championed her case, together with Dana White, a Trump good friend and CEO of the Final Preventing Championship. Trump additionally credited White, too, saying the UFC boss had referred to as him concerning the case.
White Home nationwide safety adviser Mike Waltz mentioned on X, “President Trump and his administration proceed to work across the clock to make sure Individuals detained overseas are returned residence to their households.”
The alternate was first reported by The Wall Avenue Journal.
The United Arab Emirates’ state-run WAM information company launched photographs of Karelina boarding a aircraft and one in all her standing subsequent to Yousef al-Otaiba, the UAE’s ambassador to the US.
The FSB, which mentioned Putin had pardoned Karelina earlier than the swap, launched a video exhibiting her being escorted to a aircraft someplace in Russia. The footage then featured what gave the impression to be the scene of alternate on the Abu Dhabi airport, with Petrov strolling off a aircraft and shaking arms with Russian officers on the tarmac.
The video confirmed Petrov present process medical checkups on a flight to Russia. “I’ve no explicit complaints, only a bit drained,” he mentioned.
One other video launched by the FSB later within the day confirmed him strolling off a aircraft after arriving in Russia.
Petrov was accused by the US Justice Division of involvement in a scheme to acquire microelectronics topic to US export controls on behalf of a Russia-based provider of essential parts for the nation’s weapons industries. He was dealing with a 20-year jail time period within the US.
Abu Dhabi was the scene of one other high-profile prisoner swap between Russia and the US. In December 2022, American basketball star Brittney Griner was traded for the infamous Russian arms seller Viktor Bout.
The UAE has been a mediator in prisoner swaps between Russia and Ukraine, whereas the skyscraper-studded metropolis of Dubai has develop into residence to many Russians and Ukrainians who fled there after the beginning of Moscow’s 2022 full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
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