Russian-American Ksenia Karelina Released After Treason Conviction, On Her Way Back to the US

Ksenia Karelina, a Russian-American woman sentenced to 12 years in a Russian prison for treason, is now free and heading home to the United States, according to US Secretary of State Marco Rubio.

In a post on X (formerly Twitter) Thursday, Rubio confirmed Karelina’s release, saying, “American Ksenia Karelina is on a plane back home to the United States. She was wrongfully detained by Russia for over a year, and President Trump secured her release.”

Rubio also stressed that President Trump would continue to fight for the release of all Americans detained in Russia.

While it’s still unclear whether Karelina’s release was part of a larger prisoner swap, the news is a significant victory for those advocating for the return of detained Americans.

Karelina, 33 at the time of her arrest, was sentenced in August 2024 after being convicted of treason. Her crime? Making a donation of just over $50 to a US-based charity supporting Ukraine—a seemingly small act that led to a harsh punishment in the eyes of the Russian government.

Her trial took place in Yekaterinburg, the same court that sentenced Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich to 16 years for espionage in July. Gershkovich’s case garnered significant international attention and was later part of a historic prisoner swap, which also freed Paul Whelan, Vladimir Kara-Murza, and journalist Alsu Kurmasheva.

Karelina, a Los Angeles resident and amateur ballerina, became a US citizen in 2021. She traveled to Russia in January 2024 to visit her family—her 90-year-old grandmother, sister, and parents. Initially planning a brief two-week stay, Karelina’s arrest in February 2024 went unnoticed until news of her detention surfaced shortly thereafter.

Her supporters have noted that her visit to Russia was purely personal and that Karelina had every intention of returning to Los Angeles, where she resides.

Karelina’s release marks a significant moment in the ongoing tension between the US and Russia. It’s the second release of an American citizen from Russian custody since Trump returned to office. Earlier in February, Marc Fogel, an American teacher detained in Russia for more than three years, was also freed in exchange for Russian money launderer Alexander Vinnik.

Though the details of Karelina’s release remain unclear, the ongoing efforts to bring Americans home signal a shift in diplomatic priorities as the US continues to work for the freedom of its citizens abroad.