WSJ: US, Russia engage in second prisoner swap of 2025 Karelina, Petrov freed

Russia released U.S.-Russian dual national Ksenia Karelina in a prisoner exchange with the United States on the morning of April 10 in Abu Dhabi.

According to the Wall Street Journal (WSJ), citing sources familiar with the matter, Karelina was swapped for Arthur Petrov, a German-Russian dual national arrested in Cyprus in 2023 at the request of U.S. authorities. Petrov was accused of exporting sensitive U.S.-made microelectronics to Russia.

Karelina, a Los Angeles resident, was arrested in January 2024 while visiting family in Yekaterinburg, Russia. Initially charged with “petty hooliganism,” the Russian authorities later accused her of treason after she donated around $50 to a Ukrainian charity. In August, a Russian court sentenced her to 12 years in prison, and her appeal was denied in the fall.

The CIA played a pivotal role in orchestrating Thursday's exchange, according to WSJ. CIA Director John Ratcliffe was reported to have negotiated with Alexander Bortnikov, head of the Russian Federal Security Service (FSB), and was present at the Abu Dhabi airport for the handover.

“Today, President Trump brought home another wrongfully detained American from Russia,” Ratcliffe said in a statement, as quoted by WSJ. “I’m proud of the CIA officers who worked tirelessly to support this effort, and we appreciate the Government of the U.A.E. for enabling the exchange.”

Ratcliffe had reportedly engaged in multiple conversations with Bortnikov and Sergei Naryshkin, head of Russia’s Foreign Intelligence Service (SVR), since assuming the role of CIA director. Bortnikov was also involved in last year’s negotiations for the release of WSJ reporter Evan Gershkovich.

Karelina’s lawyer, Mikhail Mushailov, later confirmed to RBC news outlet that his client had been released from Russian police custody and was already in contact with her parents.

This exchange marks the second prisoner swap between Washington and Moscow since U.S. President Donald Trump took office in 2025. In February, the U.S. secured the release of Marc Fogel, an American teacher imprisoned in Russia on drug charges, in exchange for Russian cryptocurrency figure Alexander Vinnik.

The Trump administration hailed Fogel’s release as a diplomatic success, viewing it as a potential opportunity for further talks aimed at ending the war in Ukraine.

By Tamilla Hasanova