U.S. Will Drop Smuggling Charges Against Russian-Born Harvard Medical School Scientist

By Reuters Nov. 4, 2026 Harvard scientist Kseniia Petrova. REUTERS / Reba Saldanha U.S. prosecutors said Tuesday that they will drop criminal charges against a Russian-born scientist at Harvard University accused of smuggling frog embryos into the United States after she argued the Trump administration had singled her out for prosecution. Federal prosecutors in Boston said in a court filing they were dismissing the charges against Kseniia Petrova after a federal judge cleared the way for her to obtain evidence supporting her claim that she was being vindictively prosecuted. Prosecutors in the filing said that while they viewed those claims as "meritless," continuing to prosecute the case after the judge's order "would divert significant time and attention from more substantial federal interests." "Throughout these proceedings, Ms. Petrova has shown tremendous courage, and we are relieved that this chapter of her terrible ordeal will soon be over," William Fick, her lawyer, said in a statement. A spokesperson for U.S. Attorney Leah Foley, the Trump administration's top federal prosecutor in Massachusetts, declined to comment. U.S. immigration authorities took Petrova, a biomedical researcher at Harvard Medical School, into custody at the airport in Boston in February 2025 after her visa was revoked upon her return from a trip to France. Prosecutors brought a criminal case against Petrova in May 2025, as a federal judge in Vermont weighed ordering her release from the immigration detention facility in Louisiana. Prosecutors alleged that U.S. Customs and Border Protection agents stopped Petrova after her checked duffel bag was flagged for inspection, revealing the frog embryos that they said should have been declared to customs officials. Petrova, who was ultimately released on bail in June 2025, pleaded not guilty to the smuggling and false statement charges she faced. She has said her boss asked her to bring back frog embryo samples for experiments. Her lawyers argued the charges were brought in retaliation for her decision to challenge the immigration proceedings against her and said that the case had been brought amid a broader campaign by the White House against researchers, universities and Harvard itself. In April, a federal judge in Vermont ruled Petrova's visa had been unlawfully canceled. Read more about: United States , Court cases Sign up for our free weekly newsletter Our weekly newsletter contains a hand-picked selection of news, features, analysis and more from The Moscow Times. You will receive it in your mailbox every Friday. Never miss the latest news from Russia. Preview Subscribers agree to the Privacy Policy We sent a confirmation to your email. Please confirm your subscription. A Message from The Moscow Times: Dear readers, We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent." These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia. We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help. Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact. By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us. Once Monthly Annual Continue Not ready to support today? Remind me later. × Remind me next month Remind me Thank you! Your reminder is set. We will send you one reminder email a month from now. For details on the personal data we collect and how it is used, please see our Privacy Policy. Read more U.S. Grand Jury Indicts Russian Scientist for Allegedly Smuggling Frog Embryos Harvard Medical School researcher Ksenia Petrova was also indicted on charges of giving false statements and concealment of a material fact. 2 Min read Elderly American Pleads Guilty to Fighting in Ukraine Against Russia Stephen Hubbard’s sister confirmed that he had been living in Ukraine since 2014 but denied that he fought as a mercenary. 1 Min read U.S.-Russian Woman Jailed 12 Years for Donating Money to Pro-Ukraine Charity Ksenia Karelina, a spa employee in Los Angeles, was arrested in January while visiting her family in the city of Yekaterinburg. 2 Min read U.S. Soldier Held in Russia Denies Threatening to Kill Girlfriend Russian media outlets reported that Staff Sgt. Gordon Black pleaded "partially" guilty to theft charges. 1 Min read