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Former ballerina ‘really, really happy’ since release from Russian prison
The Hill ^ | 7/2/25 | Sarah Fortinsky

Posted on 08/08/2025 11:59:44 AM PDT by CondoleezzaProtege

U.S.-Russian dual citizen Ksenia Karelina, a former ballerina, said she’s been “really, really happy” since she was released from Russia in a prisoner exchange in April.

Karelina was arrested in February 2024 in Yekaterinburg after returning to Russia to visit her family. A Russian court convicted her of treason for donating just north of $50 to a U.S.-based Ukrainian charity, and she was sentenced to 12 years in prison.

The State Department, which previously determined Karelina had been wrongfully detained, announced in April that President Trump had “secured her release” and that she was “on a plane back home to the United States.”

(Excerpt) Read more at thehill.com ...


TOPICS: Society
KEYWORDS: hostage; prisonerexchange; russia; ukraine
Yay for Ksenia and kudos to President Trump and team!
1 posted on 08/08/2025 11:59:44 AM PDT by CondoleezzaProtege
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To: CondoleezzaProtege

https://youtu.be/VK9GeTMM4AE?feature=shared


2 posted on 08/08/2025 12:15:28 PM PDT by CondoleezzaProtege
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To: CondoleezzaProtege

Former spa worker


3 posted on 08/08/2025 12:39:39 PM PDT by TexasGator (The 750 hp Florida Gnat)
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To: CondoleezzaProtege

When Cuomo asked her what she wanted to do with her life, she didn’t say, ‘I want to marry this man and share my life with him,’ ‘have his babies,’ or some such. It was a little surprising.


4 posted on 08/08/2025 12:41:05 PM PDT by Carry_Okie (The tree of liberty needs a rope.)
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To: CondoleezzaProtege


5 posted on 08/08/2025 1:09:00 PM PDT by nwrep
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To: Carry_Okie

hmm…🤔I liked her answer. Sounds like she is still healing and settling into normalcy, and she wants to eventually use her experience to help others who are going through dark times and situations. That’s quite magnanimous.


6 posted on 08/08/2025 1:19:05 PM PDT by CondoleezzaProtege
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To: nwrep

Stunning! Lovely disposition as well.


7 posted on 08/08/2025 1:21:50 PM PDT by CondoleezzaProtege
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To: CondoleezzaProtege

Dual citizenship needs to be abandon.


8 posted on 08/08/2025 1:27:30 PM PDT by GingisK
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To: GingisK

Re: dual citizenship, you may have a point. It’s too easy to take being an American for granted.


9 posted on 08/08/2025 1:39:20 PM PDT by CondoleezzaProtege
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To: nwrep
I remember when I could do a split like that.

Ha! Just kidding.

10 posted on 08/08/2025 1:40:22 PM PDT by Sicon ("All animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others." - G. Orwell)
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To: nwrep

Does she need a place to crash for awhile?


11 posted on 08/08/2025 1:50:09 PM PDT by JZelle
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To: CondoleezzaProtege
I liked her answer.

I didn't say that I didn't appreciate her appreciation for freedom and desire to help others. It's just that given the context of Cuomo's question and previous mention of how much her man had done to save her out of love for her, it was striking that she didn't say anything commensurate with that sentiment about the guy who had worked so hard for her freedom and return to the US.

12 posted on 08/08/2025 1:52:52 PM PDT by Carry_Okie (The tree of liberty needs a rope.)
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To: CondoleezzaProtege

Great news! Another win for PDJT!


13 posted on 08/08/2025 2:18:09 PM PDT by quilterdebbie (We will endeavor to persevere!)
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To: nwrep

N-n-n-nnn-nnnn Not GUILTY!


14 posted on 08/08/2025 2:19:13 PM PDT by FroggyTheGremlim (Hail to Pitt!)
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To: Carry_Okie

Oh I see what you mean. You know, I am somewhat familiar with that part of the world and…it doesn’t surprise me.

Cuomo…his narrative… is very American in the framing of things. Russian culture is very…un-Disney. (?) Albeit highly romantic. (But not in the settle down, plan the wedding, house with the white picket fence sort of way…)

And despite her smiles, it’s likely she has a LOT to decompress from.


15 posted on 08/08/2025 4:25:51 PM PDT by CondoleezzaProtege
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To: GingisK
Dual citizenship needs to be abandon.

Like Melanija and Barron being dual Slovenia/U.S. citizens?

16 posted on 08/08/2025 7:36:45 PM PDT by eldoradude (Think for yourself...)
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To: eldoradude

Yes. Melania should not have dual citizenship. Barron, too, if he has dual. If true, I’m surprised that they do, and am a little pissed.

Zero dual citizenships.


17 posted on 08/08/2025 7:40:26 PM PDT by MayflowerMadam (It's hard not to celebrate the fall of bad people. - Bongino)
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To: MayflowerMadam
Melania & Barron Trump Retain Dual-Citizenship With Slovenia & U.S.

https://www.newsweek.com/fact-check-donald-trump-ending-dual-citizenship-2054050

"Members of Trump's immediate family also hold dual citizenship. His wife, Melania Trump, and their son, Barron Trump, are citizens of Slovenia and the U.S. The president is also eligible for dual citizenship in the U.K., where his mother was born, though he has not claimed this."

18 posted on 08/08/2025 7:51:58 PM PDT by eldoradude (Think for yourself...)
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To: eldoradude

Yes, those two as well.


19 posted on 08/09/2025 4:29:09 AM PDT by GingisK
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