Filenews 10 April 2025
Russian-American Xenia Karelina, who was serving a 12-year prison sentence in Russia on charges of treason, has been released as part of a prisoner exchange between Moscow and Washington, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced.
Xenia Karelina, also known as Xenia Havana, "is on the plane back to the United States," Marco Rubio said in a post on X.
She was arrested in Yekaterinburg, Russia, in February 2024, accused of donating €47 to a charity that was helping Ukraine.
U.S. authorities called the charges against her "absolutely ridiculous."
The reverse route is followed by Arthur Petrov, a businessman, holder of Russian and German citizenship, who was arrested in Cyprus in 2023 accused of illegal exports of microchips.
According to reports, 33-year-old Petrov is involved in the supply of microelectronic components, which were intended to supply the Russian army during the invasion of Ukraine. It was issued in the US in August 2024.
Xenia Karelina, a former ballet dancer, reportedly acquired American citizenship after marrying an American and moving to Los Angeles. She was arrested when she returned to Russia to visit her family last year.
