In the United States, Russian citizen Ksenia Petrova has been detained on suspicion of illegally transporting amphibian embryos. The U.S. Department of Justice released the relevant information.
According to the department, the maximum penalty the accused could face is two decades of imprisonment. Court documents state that on February 16, Petrova arrived in Boston on a flight from Paris carrying frog embryos, which the researcher intended to import for scientific work.
The Department of Justice emphasized that such cargo requires mandatory declaration and special permits. Petrova herself claims she was unaware of the need to document the biological materials.
U.S. authorities are seeking the deportation of the Harvard employee. Previously, the scientist expressed concerns about possible extradition to Russia—in 2022, she was detained for participating in protests against military actions and has since publicly condemned Russia's actions in Ukraine.
Currently, Petrova is being held at a correctional facility in Louisiana. The first court hearing in her case is scheduled for today, May 15.