A U.S.-Russian dual national jailed in Russia on treason charges was freed Thursday in a prisoner exchange with Washington, the woman's lawyer and U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said.
Ksenia Karelina also identified in the media as Ksenia Khavana, is "on a plane back home to the United States," Rubio said in a post on X. She was arrested in the Ural Mountains city of Yekaterinburg in February 2024 and convicted of treason later that year on charges stemming from a donation of about $52 to a charity aiding Ukraine.
The U.S. authorities have called the case against her "absolutely ludicrous."
Karelina, a former ballet dancer, reportedly obtained U.S. citizenship after marrying an American and moving to Los Angeles. She was arrested when she returned to Russia to visit her family last year.
Russia's Federal Security Service, or FSB, said she "proactively collected money in the interests of one of the Ukrainian organizations, which was subsequently used to purchase tactical medical supplies, equipment, weapons, and ammunition for the Ukrainian armed forces."
The First Department, aRussian rights group, said the charges stemmed from a $51.80 donation to a U.S. charity aiding Ukraine.