A Russian-American ballerina who has been in a Russian prison for nearly a year -- arrested for donating a paltry $50 to a pro-Ukraine charity -- has been released in a prisoner swap between the United States and Russia.
She's home!
I mean, have you ever seen anyone happier to be an American?
Moscow released Karelina in exchange for German-Russian citizen Arthur Petrov, who was arrested in 2023 in Cyprus at the request of the U.S. on charges of exporting sensitive microelectronics, the Wall Street Journal reported.
Karelina was sentenced to 12 years in a Russian penal colony after pleading guilty to treason for donating $51.80 to a Ukrainian charity in early 2024.
Yes, she was convicted of treason and was given a harsher sentence because she was suspected of being an American spy.
Here's the Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, on the exchange:
I've gotta say, I doubt Karelina will remain Russian-American for long, and I doubt she'll hold much allegiance to Mother Russia after this.
Megyn Kelly covered Ksenia's story here:
Welcome home, Ksenia!
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