Russia has freed Ksenia Karelina, an American prisoner, says Rubio
The secretary of state Marco Rubio declared on Thursday that an American citizen had been issued by the Russian case in a rare exchange of prisoners, in the midst of a wider effort in Washington and Moscow to repair relationships.
The prisoner, Ksenia Karelina, a double citizen of Russia and the United States, was I go down a 12 -year sentence in Russia after being sentenced for treason for Donating about $ 50 to a non -profit group This sends assistance to Ukraine.
Rubio said on Thursday that Mrs. Karelina, 33, was “on a plane at home in the United States”.
“He was unjustly detained by Russia for over a year and President Trump ensured his release,” he wrote on X.
The news of the release of Mrs. Karelina was reported for the first time by the Wall Street Journalwho said that the move was part of an exchange of prisoners who took place in Abu Dhabi, the capital of the United Arab Emirates.
It arrived when US and Russian diplomats met in Türkiye to discuss the filming of direct flights and restore staff levels to the embassies in both countries.
In February, Russia agreed to release March FogelAn American teacher who has been imprisoned in Russia on charges of drugs. The release of Mr. Fogel – who had the Biden administration classified as a detainee erroneously – It was part of an agreement with the Kremlin negotiated by the special correspondent of Mr. Trump in the Middle East, Steve Witkoff. In return, the United States released Alexander VinnikA Russian who had been convicted of conspiracy to commit money back money.
