The United States and Russia carried out a high-profile prisoner exchange in Abu Dhabi on Thursday, marking the second such swap in less than two months. Among those released was Ksenia Karelina, a U.S. resident who had been imprisoned in Russia on charges of treason.
Russia and the U.S. carried out a prisoner swap early Thursday in Abu Dhabi. Ksenia Karelina, an amateur ballerina and Los Angeles resident, had been in prison in Russia for over a year after being arrested in the city of Yekaterinburg in early 2024. She had previously spent over a decade in a Russian prison after making a donation of just over $50 to a New York-based charity offering humanitarian aid to Ukraine. Her contribution was deemed an act of treason, leading to a 12-year sentence behind bars.
She is now released and heading back to the U.S. as part of a prisoner exchange for Arthur Petrov, a dual German-Russian citizen. Petrov was arrested in Cyprus in 2023 and later extradited to the United States. He was accused of illegally exporting microelectronics to Russia for manufacturers linked to the Russian military, and faced charges including export control violations, smuggling, wire fraud, and money laundering.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio confirmed Karelina’s release on X, stating that U.S. President Trump secured her freedom after she was wrongfully held by Russia. He added that the president’s efforts to free all detained Americans are ongoing. Around 10 other U.S. citizens remain imprisoned in Russia.
According to officials, the prisoner swap took place in Abu Dhabi on Thursday.
The UAE’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed the exchange, stating that Abu Dhabi was chosen due to the “close friendship between both countries and the United Arab Emirates.” The ministry expressed hope that the exchange would help ease tensions and promote dialogue for greater regional and global stability. This marks the second prisoner exchange between Russia and the U.S. in under two months.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said reaching a peace agreement with the United States over the war in Ukraine remains difficult, as Moscow stands firm on its demands and vows never to return to economic dependence on the West.
Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief: here are the top news stories for April 15th, covering the latest developments you need to know.
Europe experienced its most extensive flooding since 2013 last year, with 30% of the continent’s river network impacted by severe floods, according to a joint report by the Copernicus Climate Change Service and the World Meteorological Organization.
A 5.2 magnitude earthquake hit San Diego County on Monday, shaking homes and disrupting daily life across the region. Originating near Julian, the tremor was felt in San Diego, Orange, and Los Angeles counties, with residents noting its intensity and duration.
A sandstorm in Najaf, Iraq, has drastically reduced visibility and disrupted daily life, causing major traffic problems and challenging both residents and authorities.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said reaching a peace agreement with the United States over the war in Ukraine remains difficult, as Moscow stands firm on its demands and vows never to return to economic dependence on the West.
Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief: here are the top news stories for April 15th, covering the latest developments you need to know.
Asian markets edged higher on Tuesday, lifted by gains in auto stocks after US President Donald Trump suggested he might ease tariffs on vehicles.
Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan spoke with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio by phone, discussing the situations in Syria, Gaza, and efforts for a Ukraine ceasefire, according to diplomatic sources.
NORAD has monitored a Russian military aircraft operating in the Alaskan Air Defense Identification Zone, confirming it remained in international airspace and posed no threat.
A small plane crashed near Kopake, New York, on April 13, killing at 6 people. The Mitsubishi MU-2B aircraft, carrying six people, went down under unclear circumstances. This marks the second aviation accident in New York in a week, raising safety concerns.
Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief: here are the top news stories for April 10th, covering the latest developments you need to know.
The death toll from the catastrophic roof collapse at a nightclub in Santo Domingo has risen to 98, with more than 160 people injured, according to Dominican authorities.
A quiet Thursday afternoon at St. Peter’s Basilica turned into something extraordinary, as visitors caught a rare glimpse of Pope Francis — not in his familiar white papal robes, but dressed in black trousers and a striped blanket.
In a dramatic about-face, U.S. President Donald Trump on Wednesday announced a 90-day pause on newly implemented tariffs for dozens of countries — a move that eased market turmoil but further escalated tensions with China.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said reaching a peace agreement with the United States over the war in Ukraine remains difficult, as Moscow stands firm on its demands and vows never to return to economic dependence on the West.
Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief: here are the top news stories for April 15th, covering the latest developments you need to know.
Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan spoke with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio by phone, discussing the situations in Syria, Gaza, and efforts for a Ukraine ceasefire, according to diplomatic sources.
NORAD has monitored a Russian military aircraft operating in the Alaskan Air Defense Identification Zone, confirming it remained in international airspace and posed no threat.
The European Union is drafting its 17th package of sanctions against Russia, to be discussed at a foreign ministers' meeting in May, according to the bloc’s foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said reaching a peace agreement with the United States over the war in Ukraine remains difficult, as Moscow stands firm on its demands and vows never to return to economic dependence on the West.
Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief: here are the top news stories for April 15th, covering the latest developments you need to know.
Asian markets edged higher on Tuesday, lifted by gains in auto stocks after US President Donald Trump suggested he might ease tariffs on vehicles.
Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan spoke with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio by phone, discussing the situations in Syria, Gaza, and efforts for a Ukraine ceasefire, according to diplomatic sources.
NORAD has monitored a Russian military aircraft operating in the Alaskan Air Defense Identification Zone, confirming it remained in international airspace and posed no threat.
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