Russia releases the dual national Ksenia Karelina in the exchange of prisoners organized by the CIA, FSB

Russia released Ksenia Karelina, a national dual from the United States and Russia who was sentenced to 12 years in prison By betrayal in August of last year, in a new exchange of prisons on Thursday. The United States Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, confirmed his launch in a publication on social networks on the early Thursday, but did not offer information about the terms of its launch.

The Wall Street Journal first reported the launch of Karelina, saying that it was released in an exchange organized by the intelligence agencies of the two countries, and a CIA official then told News themezone that the agency had played a central role in the agreement on behalf of the United States government.

“The American Ksenia Karelina is on a plane back to the United States,” Rubio said in her position. “Russia stopped her unfairly for more than a year and President Trump assured her liberation.”

In a statement published for the first time by the magazine and then provided to News themezone, the director of the CIA, John Ratcliffe, said: “President Trump brought home another American one unjustly detained from Russia”, and added his praise to “the CIA officers who worked tirelessly to support this effort” and for the emirate of Abu Dhabi of Arabic that had allowed the exchange. The exchange of the two detainees was made in Abu Dhabi.

Ratcliffe was directly involved in the negotiations, which he made with an unidentified Russian intelligence officer, the CIA said.

Higher level communication indicates a deepening of the Trump administration efforts to improve Moscow ties. Trump has been pressing both Russia and Ukraine to negotiate a peace agreement to end the three years War caused by continuous large -scale invasion of Russia of his neighbor.

In exchange for Karelina, who lives in California, the CIA official confirmed that the United States had released Arthur Petrov, a German-Ruso-Ruso Nacional in Cyprus 2023 at the request of US authorities. According to the Journal, he was arrested for accusations of export of sensitive microelectronics.

“Much of the exchange was negotiated by the United States government, with the CIA playing a key role to get involved with Russian intelligence,” said a CIA spokesman on Thursday, adding: “The exchange shows the importance of maintaining open communication lines with Russia, despite the deep challenges in our bilateral relationship.”

Karelina was sentenced to 12 years in a Russian criminal colony after declaring himself guilty of betrayal. It was arrested during the visit to Russia for donating around $ 51 to a humanitarian group based in the United States that was helping Ukrainians affected by war, according to Russian state media.

His lawyers said he acknowledged transferring the funds, although he did not admit that he intentionally directed them to organizations that could have used money for actions against Russia. He did not expect his donation to end up supporting antirrusic activities, according to his lawyers.

Karelina’s boyfriend, Chris van Heerden, He told News themezone Last year he had made the little donation in 2022, “exercising her rights to the first amendment”, and added that “she has not done anything wrong.”

Van Heerden said he was restless about Karelina’s decision to return to Russia for a visit, given the current war between Russia and Ukraine, but said that “he did not care in the world”, and that he had assured him that he would be sure since he was entering the country as a dual American citizen.

“He wanted to go home. He made it very clear that he wanted to go home,” Van Heer vein Gayle King in “News Mornings.”

Wanting to fulfill his desire to visit his home, Van Heerden said he bought a plane ticket as a birthday gift, and the couple first traveled together to Istanbul. Originally she intended to travel with her to Russia from there, but she did not feel comfortable, so she traveled to Russia alone, and he returned to Los Angeles.

Russia imprisoned several Americans as tension with Washington shot in the midst of accumulation, and finally the large -scale war on Ukraine. Paul WhelanWall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich and professor Marc Fogel All were unjustly arrested such as Karelina and released in previous prisoners with Moscow.

Among the nationals of the United States still imprisoned in Russia is the US army sergeant. Black Gordonwhose imprisonment of three years and nine months for stealing and threatening his Russian girlfriend was reduced earlier this week by seven months by a Russian court.

Robert Gilman, 72, currently celebrates a sentence of 3 1/2 years in Russia to attack a police officer, and Travis Leakea musician convicted of drug positions, was sentenced to 13 years in prison last summer.

A Russian court sentenced to another 72 -year -old AmericanStephen Hubbard, almost seven years in prison in October for fighting with the military of Ukraine.

Joseph Tater46, he is still waiting for his trial for allegedly assaulting a Russian police officer in a Hotel in Moscow. He was involuntarily admitted to a psychiatric hospital during the weekend, according to Russian state media.

Analisa Novak and Emmet Lyon contributed to this report.

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