Updated April 10, 2025 at 1:45 p.m. ET
Just three days after former International Boxing Organization (IBO) welterweight champion Chris van Heerden appeared on The Megyn Kelly Show to advocate for the release of his girlfriend Ksenia Karelina, the 33-year-old dual Russian-American citizen and amateur ballerina is on her way home.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio confirmed early Thursday that Karelina was on a plane back to the United States after she was wrongfully detained in Russia for over a year. Moscow released her in exchange for German-Russian citizen Arthur Petrov, who, according to The Wall Street Journal, was arrested in Cyprus in 2023 at the request of the U.S. government on charges of exporting sensitive microelectronics.
“Today, for the second time since the start of his second term, President Trump has returned an American from Russian captivity. This is incredible,” Megyn said. “I can’t believe it. We were all just talking about her and felt totally hopeless a matter of hours ago.”
Karelina was sentenced to 12 years in a Russian labor camp last August after being charged with treason stemming from a $51 donation she made to a U.S.-based nonprofit helping the children and elderly impacted by the war in Ukraine. The Megyn Kelly Show received this photo of Karelina (in green sweatshirt) holding an American flag on her flight home:
Her father, Pavel, described to The Daily Mail the pure joy he and his family felt upon getting the call that their daughter would be released. “We are beside ourselves with happiness,” he said. “The first seconds of our chat were all pure emotions, I can’t even remember what we were saying, it was like one explosion of happiness.”
In a statement to The Megyn Kelly Show, Van Heerden said he was “overjoyed to hear the love of my life, Ksenia, is on her way home from wrongful detention in Russia. She’s endured a nightmare for 15 months, and I cannot wait to hold her.” He also thanked Trump and everyone who helped to bring attention to this story.
Karelina will be treated at a military hospital upon her return. “We send her our love and our prayers and Chris as well – God bless you. What a beautiful love story. I expect to be invited to the wedding,” Megyn quipped. “And congratulations to Team Trump. Hats off to you.”
Original article from April 7, 2025 below:
Ksenia Karelina is a 33-year-old dual Russian-American citizen and amateur ballerina who has been wrongfully detained in Russia for nearly 15 months.
Last August, she was convicted of “treason” and handed a 12-year prison sentence in a Russian labor camp. Her crime? A $51.80 donation she made in 2022 while living in America to the U.S.-based nonprofit, Razom, which helps children and elderly impacted by the war in Ukraine.
After arriving in Russia for the first time in three years to visit her grandmother last January, Karelina was flagged and detained by authorities for 16 hours and had her phone and passport confiscated. She was later arrested for “hooliganism” before the charges were upgraded to “treason” stemming from the $50 donation.
An attorney counseled Karelina to plead guilty to the charge to avoid a lengthy prison sentence (Russian President Vladimir Putin increased penalties for treason back in 2023), but she was still given a dozen years’ time. It is believed she is facing numerous health problems as she endures reportedly horrific work conditions at a penal colony over 1,000 miles east of Moscow.
The State Department told The Megyn Kelly Show the U.S. government has officially designated Karelina “wrongfully detained,” which is an important step in working to secure her release and one that the Biden administration is accused of slow walking.
On Monday’s show, Megyn was joined by Karelina’s boyfriend, former International Boxing Organization (IBO) welterweight champion Chris van Heerden, to discuss the circumstances that led to her conviction, how he has spent the last year fighting for her safe return, and the unexpected allies he found along the way.
The Backstory
Van Heerden explains what led Karelina to return to Russia, the role of the $51 donation, the type of legal representation she received ahead of her sentencing, the horrible conditions she is living in now, why he is concerned for her well being, and more.
What Comes Next
Megyn and van Heerden discuss why he is hopeful about the Trump administration’s ability to bring Karelina home, his frustrating experience with the Biden team, how Hollywood producer Peter Berg and UFC President Dana White are helping him raise awareness, and more.
You can check out Megyn’s full interview with van Heedran by tuning in to episode 1,043 on YouTube, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you like to listen. And don’t forget that you can catch The Megyn Kelly Show live on SiriusXM’s Triumph (channel 111) weekdays from 12pm to 2pm ET.