KSENIA Karelina, a ballerina with dual US-Russian citizenship, has lost her old life after being jailed for over a year in Russia.
She experienced an emotional reunion with her fiancé, boxer Chris Van Heerden, after President Donald Trump secured her release through a prisoner swap last month.
Karelina, a resident of Los Angeles, was taken into custody in January 2024 in the Russian city of Yekaterinburg—more than a 21-hour drive east of Moscow—while she was there visiting family.
She pled guilty to treason after donating roughly $51 to a pro-Ukraine charity.
Karelina, 33, was meant to serve 12 years in a Russian prison but after 15 months in lock-up, she escaped with the help of the White House.
On April 10, Karelina was reunited with Van Heerden after the Trump administration exchanged her for Arthur Petrov.
Petrov is a dual German-Russian citizen who was arrested in 2023 for allegedly exporting sensitive microelectronics.
Van Heerden was among the first to hug Karelina when she landed in Washington D.C.
The two kissed as those around them cheered.
Before their joyful reunion, Karelina’s fiancé expressed his happiness by saying, “I am overjoyed to hear that the love of my life, Ksenia Karelina, is on her way home from wrongful detention in Russia.”
He added: “She has endured a nightmare for 15 months, and I cannot wait to hold her.
“Our dog, Boots, is also eagerly awaiting her return.”
Karelina had a life back in Los Angeles that was ripped away from her.
Now, she is trying to recover from her horrific experience in Russian captivity.
Van Heerden created a GoFundMe page for his fiancée to help “restart her life.”
He said that she “lost everything: her job, her car, her apartment, and of course, her credit score has taken a hit.”
Ksenia Karelina’s fiancé makes GoFundMe
Ksenia Karelina’s boxer fiancé Chris Van Heerden has made a GoFundMe page to help the former Russian prisoner “rebuild her life.
“Ksenia is home!!
“Thanks to all of you, we made it possible; we gave Ksenia Kareliena a fighting chance, and after 15 months locked up in Russian captivity, we managed to bring Ksenia home to the greatest country in the world: The United States of America.
“Ksenia was wrongfully imprisoned in 2024 for making a $51 donation supporting elderly people and kids starving in the Ukraine war.
“She was sentenced to 12 years in prison, BUT today she is free and can restart her life.
“Ksenia, in the process, lost everything: her job, her car, her apartment, and of course, her credit score has taken a hit.
“The road ahead will be faced with challenges, but one that is bright and free.
“Please help me give Ksenia a head start, and if possible, we will be grateful for any donations.
“The mone [sic] will go staright [sic] to Ksenia a bank account in Los Angeles California
“Thank you.”
Karelina worked as an esthetician at Ciel Beverly Hills before she was locked up.
The GoFundMe page has already raised over $12,000 out of its $25,000 goal as of Monday afternoon.
On the day of Karelina’s release, Trump said, “They released the young ballerina and she is now out, and that was good.
“So we appreciate that,” he added.
Karelina is set to meet Trump at the White House later Monday to give her a proper welcome back to the US.
She had been met by Morgan Ortagus, Trump’s deputy peace envoy to the Middle East, when she arrived back in the US last month.
