A former ballerina who spent greater than a 12 months in a Russian jail for donating £40 to a charity supporting Ukraine has returned house to the US after being freed in a prisoner trade.
Ksenia Karelina landed at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland at round 11pm, native time, on Thursday.
A smiling Ms Karelina was greeted on the runway by her fiance, the skilled boxer Chris van Heerden, and given flowers by Morgan Ortagus, President Donald Trump’s deputy particular envoy to the Center East.
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Ksenia Karelina arrives at Joint Base Andrews. Pic: AP
Van Heerden mentioned in a press release he was “overjoyed to listen to that the love of my life, Ksenia Karelina, is on her manner house from wrongful detention in Russia.
“She has endured a nightmare for 15 months and I cannot wait to hold her. Our dog, Boots, is also eagerly awaiting her return.”
He thanked Mr Trump and his envoys, in addition to distinguished public figures who had championed her case, together with Dana White, a pal of Mr Trump and CEO of the Final Combating Championship (UFC).
Ms Karelina, 34, a US-Russian citizen additionally recognized as Ksenia Khavana, was accused of treason when she was arrested in Yekaterinburg, in southwestern Russia, whereas visiting household in February final 12 months.
Investigators searched her cell phone and located she made a $51.80 (£40) donation to Razom, a charity that gives assist to Ukraine, on the primary day of Russia’s invasion in 2022.
She admitted the cost at a closed trial within the metropolis in August final 12 months and was later jailed for 12 years, to be served in a penal colony.
At a cupboard assembly on Thursday, Mr Trump, who desires to normalise relations with Moscow, mentioned the Kremlin “released the young ballerina and she is now out, and that was good. So we appreciate that”.
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Ksenia Karelina is hugged by her boyfriend, Chris van Heerden. Pic: Reuters
He mentioned the discharge adopted conversations with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Russian safety providers accused her of “proactively” gathering cash for a Ukrainian organisation 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.
Washington, which had referred to as her case “absolutely ludicrous”, launched Arthur Petrov, who it was holding on fees of smuggling delicate microelectronics to Russia, within the prisoner swap in Abu Dhabi.
Karelina was amongst a rising variety of People arrested in Russia in recent times as tensions between Moscow and Washington spiked over the conflict in Ukraine.
Her launch is the newest in a sequence of high-profile prisoner exchanges Russia and the US carried out within the final three years – and the second since Mr Trump took workplace.
White Home nationwide safety adviser Mike Waltz mentioned members of the Trump administration “continue to work around the clock to ensure Americans detained abroad are returned home to their families”.
