Russian-American Ballerina Ksenia Karelina, who was sentenced to 12 years in the Russian prison after donating just over $ 50 to a Ukrainian charity at the beginning of 2024, is “in transport”, her friend tells Fox News, a day afterwards American Marc Fogel was released in a prisoner -wap.
The Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) told Karelina’s family about the update, the friend of the Ballerina, Christopher van Heerden told Fox News Thursday.
Although “in transport” is not a confirmation that Karelina is released, this may mean that Russia takes her to a prison closer to Moscow, which is normally a precursor to release.
The news came during what Van Heerden described as an unusual nine -day gap in communication between Karelina and her mother, who had usually spoken on the phone every day since her imprisonment.
Freed American Gostage Marc Fogel lands in the US after years in Russian imprisonment
Karelina was a family in Yekaterinberg in February 2024 when she was held on due to accusations of betrayal After donating $ 51 to a Ukrainian organization that has passed on the money to the army of the country.
Ksenia Karelina was held in Russia in February 2024 for accusations of betrayal after donating $ 51 to a Ukrainian charity. (Christopher van Heerden)
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs Certain Karelina was “wrongly held” on Tuesday, on the same day that the American teacher Marc Fogel was released after spending more than three years in a Russian prison.
The Ksenia Karelina family was told that she was ‘on the way’, her friend, Christopher van Heerden, told Fox News. (Christopher van Heerden)
In exchange for the freedom of Fogel, an official of Trump administration FOX News told the US that is that The Russian prisoner Alexander Vinnik release As part of the deal.
On this photo Ksenia Karelina appears with her friend, Christopher van Heerden. The news about the possible movement of Karelina only comes a few days after the American teacher Marc Fogel was released in a prison change with Russia. (Christopher van Heerden)
American Ballerina omitted from Russia Prisoner Swap argues guilty of betrayal: report
While Van Heerden said that, although he can clearly not do the FSB on his word, he is optimistic about the return of Charlina, adding that President Donald Trump, State Secretary Marco Rubio and special envoys Adam Boehler are all aware and informed Karelina’s case.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs stipulated that Karelina was wrongly held on Tuesday. (Christopher van Heerden)
“Movement is happening as we speak,” Van Heerden Said.
