Moscow, April 11 (V7N) – Russian-American citizen Ksenia Karelina, who had been serving a 12-year prison sentence in Russia for treason, has been released as part of a prisoner exchange between Russia and the United States.
 
State media in Russia shared video footage on April 10 showing Karelina being escorted by a security officer toward a plane at an undisclosed location. The exchange appears to be part of a rare diplomatic agreement between the two countries.
 
Karelina was found guilty of treason earlier this year by a Russian court. Details about the charges were not made public, but her case drew international attention, especially from human rights organizations and U.S. officials who had called for her release.
 
The U.S. government has not yet confirmed the identity of the person exchanged for Karelina. Prisoner swaps between the two countries are uncommon and usually happen under special circumstances involving intense negotiations.
 
Ksenia Karelina, who held both Russian and American citizenship, had been living in the United States before she was detained in Russia. Her release marks a significant moment in the ongoing diplomatic relationship between Washington and Moscow.
 
More details about the swap and the conditions of the agreement are expected to be released in the coming days.
 
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