Abu Dhabi: US and Russian dual citizen Ksenia Karelina convicted of treason in Russia was released as part of a prisoner exchange with the United States, her lawyer Mikhail Mushailov told RIA Novosti on Thursday.

According to Namibia Press Agency, earlier in the day, The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) reported, citing CIA Director John Ratcliffe, that Russia and the United States exchanged prisoners in the UAE this morning. US National Security Advisor Mike Waltz said that Russia handed over Karelina, who was sentenced to 12 years in prison for treason, to the US as part of the prisoner swap. The WSJ added that Washington handed over Artur Petrov, a Russian citizen arrested in the United States over alleged violation of export restrictions, to Moscow. Later, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio confirmed Karelina's presence on a plane to the United States.

"This morning, Ksenia Karelina was released in Abu Dhabi as part of an exchange of prisoners with the US," the lawyer said.