Harvard Researcher Kseniia Petrova Released from Federal Custody After Smuggling Charges
Kseniia Petrova, a Harvard researcher charged with smuggling frog embryos, has been released from federal custody following a judge's ruling and ongoing immigration proceedings.
Overview
- Kseniia Petrova, a 30-year-old Harvard researcher, was charged with smuggling frog embryos into the U.S. without proper declaration.
- She was detained at Boston Logan International Airport after returning from France with the embryos for research purposes.
- A federal judge ruled her detention was unlawful, stating she posed no danger and the embryos were nonhazardous.
- Petrova's release comes amid support from colleagues for her cancer research, despite the ongoing immigration case.
- She remains under travel restrictions as her immigration status is still being resolved, with her passport held by authorities.
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Analysis
Emphasizes Kseniia Petrova's unlawful detention and fear of persecution for opposing the Ukraine invasion.
Harvard scientist Kseniia Petrova, who was unjustly detained by customs officials, was released from federal custody in Boston following a detention hearing.
Petrova was accused of smuggling frog embryos into the United States without proper declaration, with prosecutors alleging fraudulent and knowing importation.
Petrova was detained by a customs official at Boston Logan International Airport in February and her J-1 visa was revoked, leading to her custody.
She filed a petition in the US arguing that her detention was unlawful and that she feared persecution in Russia for opposing the invasion of Ukraine.
At the time of her arrest, Petrova was working at a Harvard lab, where she had developed computer scripts to analyze images from a microscope.
Articles (4)
Center (2)
"…Petrova described being confused and isolated after her arrest, saying she was held in a cell without contact with her lawyer or colleagues."
NBC News·1M·"…Smiling and no longer in a jail uniform, she thanked friends and colleagues for their monthslong support."
USA TODAY·1M·FAQ
Kseniia Petrova, a Russian citizen, has been charged with one count of smuggling goods into the United States, specifically undeclared frog embryos, under federal law (18 U.S.C. § 545).
Customs agents detained Petrova after a K9 unit alerted to her checked bag, which contained undeclared clawed frog embryos and other embryonic samples. U.S. law requires the declaration of biological materials entering the country.
The federal judge ordered Petrova's release on personal recognizance, noting she poses no danger and the frog embryos are nonhazardous.
Petrova remains under travel restrictions as her immigration case is ongoing, and her passport is being held by authorities.
Petrova has received support from her colleagues, who acknowledge the value of her cancer research, despite the ongoing legal and immigration proceedings.
History
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