Harvard scholar faces charges over alleged frog embryo smuggling
Ksenia Petrov, a Russian scholar affiliated with Harvard University, has been accused of attempting to smuggle frog embryos into the United States. The case has sparked controversy, with her lawyer arguing that the charges are unfounded.
Key information
- Ksenia Petrov, a researcher from Harvard, accused of smuggling frog embryos.
- Detained at Boston's Logan International Airport after returning from Paris.
- Petrov’s lawyer challenges the validity of the charges and the timing of her transfer to detention.
Ksenia Petrov, a Russian scholar working at Harvard University, was detained at Boston's Logan International Airport upon her return from Paris. Three months after her detention, she was formally charged with attempting to smuggle frog embryos into the United States. The 31-year-old woman was transferred from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detention to a correctional facility in Louisiana. Preliminary proceedings in her criminal case are set to begin at 9 AM EST on Thursday.
Petrov claims that the current U.S. administration is detaining her unlawfully. Her lawyer, Gregory Romanovsky, described the case as "baseless" and questioned the timing of Petrov's transfer to criminal detention, which occurred after a bail hearing was scheduled.
There is no corresponding ground of inadmissibility. You cannot be found inadmissible because of the customs violation, stated Romanovsky.
Concerns about deportation
Before the criminal case was revealed, the U.S. government signaled an intention to deport Petrov to Russia. She fears returning to her country, particularly after protests against Russian aggression in Ukraine. Her representative emphasizes that the charges aim to portray Petrov as a criminal and justify actions leading to her deportation.
According to federal prosecutors, Petrov was detained after biological materials were discovered in her carry-on luggage. Regulations require declaration and special permission for their import into the U.S. Petrov claims that her supervisor had asked her to bring the samples for research purposes.
The preliminary proceedings in Petrov’s criminal case are set to begin at 9 AM EST on Thursday. Her future in the U.S. remains uncertain, and the case is causing significant controversy in both the scientific and political communities.
