Prosecutors dismiss charges against detained scientist
Federal prosecutors in Boston dropped criminal charges against a Russian scientist held after traveling with frog embryos for research.
Kseniia Petrova entered the US in March 2025 following a holiday in France. She took samples from a lab that slices frog embryos into very thin pieces for her studies.
Customs officials asked about the items when she landed at Logan airport. She faced accusations of smuggling and lying to government officials about the package.
Petrova became one of many academics arrested recently during the early period following Donald Trump's return to power. His administration promised a strict crackdown on immigration which led to shocking arrests involving scholars.
Her case was particularly high profile among those detained during this time of increased scrutiny. A federal judge found that an officer improperly canceled her visa before she could be released.
#judge Leo Sorokin ordered the dismissal of charges without holding a hearing on Wednesday. The US attorney said resource costs outweighed the public interest in continuing the prosecution. She added that the defendant claims of vindictive prosecution were meritless and lacked any legal basis.
whyGood":"This outcome protects a talented researcher from unjust penalties and supports vital medical work intended to help everyone.