A federal judge dismissed all criminal charges against Russian-born scientist Kseniia Petrova
A federal judge dismissed all criminal charges against Kseniia Petrova, a Russian-born Harvard Medical School researcher, after prosecutors sought dismissal. Prosecutors said they acted after an April order allowed Petrova to obtain evidence supporting her claim of vindictive prosecution. Petrova spent four months in immigration detention after arriving at a Boston airport with frog-embryo samples.
More context
A federal judge on Wednesday dismissed all criminal charges against Kseniia Petrova, a Russian-born scientist who worked at Harvard Medical School. Prosecutors said they sought dismissal after a federal magistrate judge in April allowed Petrova to obtain evidence supporting her claim that she was being vindictively prosecuted. Petrova, 31, was arrested in early 2025 after arriving at a Boston airport with frog embryos and other samples intended for her cancer research. She spent four months in immigration detention. The charges included smuggling, concealing facts and making false statements to government officials. Petrova told The Associated Press she did not realize the samples had to be declared and was not trying to bring them into the country secretly.
Was this story useful?
What was the main problem? (optional)
Reporting
- New York Post — US moves to drop frog embryo smuggling charges against Harvard scientist - New York Post
- NBC News — Federal judge dismisses charges against Harvard scientist accused of smuggling frog embryos - NBC News
- Greenwich Time — Scientist who brought frog embryos to Boston for cancer research is cleared of smuggling charges - Greenwich Time
- law360.com — Feds Dropping Charges Against Harvard Researcher - Law360
Verifier’s note
The New York Post, NBC News, AP as carried by Greenwich Time, and Law360 all report that prosecutors dropped or moved to dismiss criminal charges against Kseniia Petrova. Their reports were published on November 4 and match the proposed event.