Ballerina Ksenia Karelina Emotional Return To L.A. After Launch From Russian Jail

Ksenia Karelina, the Russian-American ballerina free of a Russian jail after over a yr behind bars, lastly touched down again house in L.A. Friday evening, greeted by household and pals, together with her fiancé, boxer Chris van Heerden, who thanked Trump, and blasted Biden.

“The previous administration did not do nothing for her. We’re very grateful for President Trump and the brand new administration,” van Heerden informed TMZ Sports activities moments after Karelina’s aircraft touched down at LAX, and she or he reunited with household and pals.

Chris says whereas there have been a “handful of individuals within the previous administration that had been superb,” he shortly realized DJT was Ksenia’s finest guess at being launched from custody.

“I had religion and perception that President Trump would carry her again and we needed to wait,” the 28-3-1 skilled boxer added.

Karelina, who has twin citizenship within the U.S. and Russia, was arrested in January 2024 throughout a household journey to Yekaterinburg, the place she was born, and charged with treason for a small donation she made to Ukraine.

Ksenia was sentenced to 12 years in a penal colony in August 2024.

After he was sworn in as POTUS in January, Trump’s folks started engaged on Karelina’s launch … which in the end got here final week after a prisoner trade in Abu Dhabi.

Ksenia has been again in America since final Thursday, however this was the primary time she’s been house since she was arrested — and you’ll see the enjoyment and aid on her face.

“It seems like house, it is superb. Particularly now with the entire pals and family members,” Karelina informed us.

Ksenia, nonetheless shaken up by the expertise, wasn’t able to delve into the nitty-gritty particulars of what she went by means of abroad.

Karelina says she’ll ultimately open up about her time behind bars, however for now, she’s simply thrilled to be again along with her folks.

“I am simply actually grateful to President Trump and the federal government for bringing me again and it simply actually feels good to be house.”