US moves to drop smuggling charges against Harvard scientist
The dismissal follows a judge’s ruling that Petrova could seek records for her selective-prosecution claim, and prosecutors said the case would divert federal resources.
- On Tuesday, federal prosecutors in Boston moved to drop criminal smuggling charges against Kseniia Petrova, a Russian-born scientist at Harvard University, after she argued the Trump administration singled her out for prosecution.
- Last month, a Boston judge concluded Petrova presented sufficient evidence of selective prosecution, granting her access to government records to support her claim; prosecutors had initially brought the case in May 2025.
- While labeling the claims "meritless," prosecutors stated in a court filing that continuing prosecution would "divert significant time and attention from more substantial federal interests." US Attorney Leah Foley declined to comment.
- Immigration authorities detained Petrova at the Boston airport in February 2025 after her visa was revoked upon returning from France; a Vermont judge later ruled the visa cancellation unlawful.
- Petrova's lawyers argued the charges stemmed from a broader campaign by President Donald Trump's administration targeting researchers and universities like Harvard. She worked at Harvard Medical School and had pleaded not guilty.
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Prosecutors to drop charges against Russian-born Harvard scientist accused of smuggling frog embryos
Prosecutors have moved to drop criminal charges against a Russian-born scientist at Harvard University accused of smuggling frog embryos into the US. Kseniia Petrova 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 Ms Petrova after a federal judge cleared the way for her to obtain evidence supporting her claim that she was being vindi…
The U.S. Department of Justice has filed a motion with the Massachusetts Federal District Court to dismiss the case against the Russian citizen Xenia Petrova, who was detained with the embryos of clawed frogs. "At this stage, the cost of continuing the case outweighs the public weight in his decision. The Government requests that the court allow the case to be dismissed without the right to re-indictment," provides TASS with an extract from the …
US moves to drop smuggling charges against Harvard scientist
US prosecutors moved on Tuesday to 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.
The U.S. Department of Justice has requested the Federal Court of Massachusetts to dismiss the criminal case against a Russian researcher from Harvard University, Xenia Petrova, accused of smuggling frog embryos. The prosecution's attorney Igor the Weak. The authorities are asking for an end to the case, which prohibits the re-indictment of the same charges. The court has to decide.Telegram - Justification. The prosecutor's office has explained …
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