Russian scientist Ksenia Petrova, who worked at Harvard Medical School, has been arrested in the United States, the channel “Present Time” reports with reference to the United States Department of Justice.
In March, she was detained for importing frog embryos and accused of smuggling biological materials. The girl was held in a detention centre in Louisiana for three months.
Federal prosecutors in Boston charged Petrova after a federal judge in Vermont heard arguments in a lawsuit she filed. The Russian claims the Trump administration detained her illegally, Reuters writes.
The next hearing in Petrova’s case will be held on 15 May.
Petrova’s lawyer Grigory Romanovsky called the charges “groundless” and questioned the legality of her transfer into custody in a comment to Reuters:
“The accusation, made three months after the alleged customs violation, is clearly aimed at making Ksenia look like a criminal and justifying attempts to deport her.”
Petrova was detained at Boston airport on 16 February after returning from a trip to France because she failed to properly declare frog embryos. Petrova, who worked at Harvard Medical School, said she was asked to bring the frog embryo samples by her supervisor for ongoing experiments. The scientist’s research visa was cancelled after she was detained.
One of Petrova’s colleagues, who wished to remain anonymous, told Russian publication Mediazona that she was carrying “a large box with several cold blocks, which obviously could not be hidden” and could have accidentally made a mistake when completing the customs declaration. According to him, the law says such violations carry a fine of up to $500, since the material was safe and non-toxic.
Petrova herself says she is afraid to return to Russia because of the threat of political persecution. In 2022, she was detained in Moscow for taking part in anti-war protests. On her page, journalists found publications and posts where she openly opposes the Russian invasion of Ukraine and criticises the authorities.
According to the Russian woman’s lawyer, her social media posts and participation in petitions make Petrova a potential target for criminal prosecution in her home country.