Ballerina Ksenia Karelina – jailed in Russia after giving £40 to a charity supporting Ukraine – has been released as part of a prisoner swap deal with the US.
The 34-year-old US-Russian citizen was accused of treason when she was arrested in Yekaterinburg, in southwestern Russia, in February.
Investigators searched her mobile phone and found that she made a $51.80 (£40) donation to Razom, a charity that provides aid to Ukraine, on the first day of Russia’s invasion.
She admitted the charge at a closed trial in the city in August last year and was later jailed for 12 years.
Mikhail Mushailov, Ms Karelina’s lawyer, said on Instagram that she had flown to the US from Abu Dhabi on Thursday.
US secretary of state Marco Rubio added Ms Karelina “was wrongfully detained by Russia for over a year,” and said “President Trump secured her release… (and) will continue to work for the release of ALL Americans”.
This breaking news story is being updated and more details will be published shortly.
Please refresh the page for the fullest version.
You can receive breaking news alerts on a smartphone or tablet via the Sky News app. You can also follow us on WhatsApp and subscribe to our YouTube channel to keep up with the latest news.
