In a powerful diplomatic victory, the Trump administration has secured the release of Ksenia Karelina, a Russian-American ballet dancer who was unjustly imprisoned in Russia and sentenced to 12 years in a penal colony on bogus charges of treason.
Karelina, 34, was arrested in January 2024 while visiting her family in Yekaterinburg. Her so-called “crime” was making a $51.80 donation to a U.S.-based charity that provides humanitarian aid to Ukraine. Russian authorities used this small act of generosity as pretext to accuse her of anti-Russian activities—an obvious political stunt that drew international outrage.
President Trump and his national security team worked behind the scenes for months to secure her freedom. The breakthrough came through a carefully coordinated prisoner swap. In exchange for Karelina’s release, the U.S. agreed to return Arthur Petrov, a dual German-Russian national arrested in 2023 for attempting to smuggle sensitive U.S. microelectronics to Russia in violation of sanctions. The swap was executed in Abu Dhabi, highlighting the complex and delicate nature of the negotiations.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio confirmed the success of the operation. “Ksenia Karelina is on her way home to the United States,” he said. “She was wrongfully detained for over a year, and President Trump made sure she’s free.”
CIA Director John Ratcliffe praised the intelligence team for their role in the mission and acknowledged the United Arab Emirates for facilitating the exchange. He emphasized that this was not just about diplomacy—it was about standing up for Americans wrongfully imprisoned abroad.
Karelina’s ordeal began as a personal visit to see her 90-year-old grandmother. Upon entry into Russia, authorities combed through her digital records and used her donation as justification to arrest her. Her case, widely seen as politically motivated, highlighted the growing trend of authoritarian regimes using innocent Americans as bargaining chips.
Her boyfriend, former boxing champion Chris Van Heerden, fought tirelessly for her release. “She’s not political—she’s a kind, compassionate person,” he said. “This was never justice. It was cruelty. I can’t wait to hold her again.”
This marks the second high-profile release of an American citizen secured by President Trump in recent months. In February, the administration successfully brought home American teacher Marc Fogel, who had been held in Russia on trumped-up drug charges.
These victories send a clear message: the Trump administration will not allow American citizens to be used as pawns on the world stage. Whether it’s a schoolteacher or a ballet dancer, this administration is proving—again and again—that it will fight to bring Americans home.
With Karelina now en route to U.S. soil, the White House remains focused on securing the release of other Americans still wrongfully detained around the globe. As President Trump has made clear, America protects its own—and under his leadership, no citizen will be forgotten.