Overview

• Kseniia Petrova, a Russian-born researcher at Harvard, was charged with smuggling frog embryos into the U.S. after undeclared samples were found in her luggage at Boston Logan Airport in February.
• Federal prosecutors allege Petrova knowingly failed to declare the biological materials, citing text messages that show she was aware of the requirement to obtain permission.
• Petrova has been detained in Louisiana since February and faces up to 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine if convicted on the smuggling charge.
• She has sought asylum, citing fears of persecution in Russia for her opposition to the war in Ukraine, but the government has stated its intent to deport her.
• The case has raised concerns in the academic community about its potential impact on international researchers and scientific collaborations in the U.S.