US-Russian Citizen Freed In Prisoner Swap

1 week ago Russia has freed a Russian American convicted of treason in exchange for a Russian German man jailed on smuggling charges in the U.S. Thursday's prisoner swap comes as the two countries work to repair ties. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Ksenia Karelina was on her way to the U.S. Karelina was arrested in 2024 on charges stemming from a donation of about $52 to a charity aiding Ukraine. U.S. authorities have called the case “absolutely ludicrous.” Russian officials said Arthur Petrov was released as part of the swap. He was arrested in Cyprus in 2023 at the request of the U.S. on charges of smuggling sensitive microelectronics.