US-Russian citizen Ksenia Karelina on the airfield prior to her return to the US. ARCHIVE

 The UAE played a key diplomatic role in facilitating a high-profile prisoner exchange between the United States and Russia on Thursday (April 10), resulting in the release of US-Russian citizen Ksenia Karelina. The UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed that the exchange took place in Abu Dhabi and also involved the release of German-Russian citizen Arthur Petrov. Yousef Al Otaiba, the UAE Ambassador to the US, said the country was proud to assist in the effort. “Ksenia’s first stop on her way back to freedom. The UAE was proud to help – always here for our friends,” Al Otaiba posted via the UAE Embassy in the US on X (formerly Twitter). Photos shared by UAE authorities showed Karelina standing with Al Otaiba on the airfield prior to her return. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio also confirmed the release, saying, “Ksenia Karelina was wrongfully detained by Russia for over a year,” referencing her 12-year sentence for allegedly donating to a US charity that supported humanitarian aid in Ukraine. In exchange, the US freed Arthur Petrov, who had been detained in Cyprus in 2023 for allegedly exporting sensitive microelectronics. This latest diplomatic move follows a similar UAE-mediated exchange on March 19, in which 175 Russian and 175 Ukrainian prisoners were released. The UAE continues to serve as a neutral ground in international diplomacy and conflict resolution. ICA/Expat Media
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