Russia released a Los Angeles spa worker on Thursday sentenced to 12 years in jail for donating to a charity aiding Ukraine in exchange for a man accused of crafting a global smuggling ring to spirit sensitive U.S. electronics to Russia's military.
The exchange, which took place at Abu Dhabi airport, was confirmed by the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency and Russia's Federal Security Service, the main successor to the Soviet-era KGB.
Footage on Russian state media showed Ksenia Karelina, a dual citizen who was found guilty last year of treason by a Russian court for donating money to a U.S.-based charity providing humanitarian support to Ukraine, flying out of Russia.
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