Kseniia Petrova, Russian Scientist at the Harvard University School of Medicine who was detained after being accused of smuggling of unrelated frog embryos in the United StatesHe was released from the remand on Thursday.
Petrova was arrested by ice agents at International Logan Airport On February 16, after returning from a trip to France with what was described in a court that he presented as “non -toxic and non -toxic frog embryos.” He has been in prison for almost four months since his arrest.
The Department of National Security, through a spokesman, claimed that Petrova “consciously broke the law and deliberate measures to evade -the statement, read the statement. The department claimed text messages “revealed that it was planning to smuggling materials through the customs without declaring them.”
A The Judge of the Federal Court of Vermont ordered that Petrova released last monthThey show the court records. It was taken to Massachusetts for a arrest audience on a single count of smuggling goods in the United States
Following the sight Thursday, Judith G. Dein’s judge allowed Petrova’s release on the conditions.
“I just want to thank everyone,” said Petrova outside the Boston federal building shortly after its launch.
He wore a t -shirt that said, “Hakuna Matata”, a popular phrase from “The Lion King” meaning “without worries”.
“Many people started contacting me and sent me letters, and it was a huge support without I will not be able to survive,” he said.
“I never felt alone in any minute when I was in pre -trial detention and really helped me a lot,” Petrova added.
Petrova, 30, who was brought to the court wearing an orange dress, had been in federal custody since February.
The lawyers of both parties reached an agreement on the conditions for the release of Petrova, which included limiting their journey. Authorities continue to maintain their passport. Petrova has to return to court next week for a probable causation audience about smuggling.
“I’m sorry is sunny. Goodbye,” said Judith Dein’s judge judge after passing the agreement.
Greg Romanovsky, Petrova’s lawyer, said that his client has not “decided if he still wants to stay in the United States.”
“It has offers from different countries around the world, countries eager to support important research.
She told The Associated Press In an interview In April that he did not realize the articles that needed to be declared and did not try to strain anything in the country.
In May, Petrova was accused of smuggling Massachusetts as a federal judge at Vermont set the date of hearing on his request. That judge was ruled after That the actions of the immigration officers be illegal, that Petrova did not present a danger and that the embryos were not alive, they are not dangerous and “they posed a threat to anyone.”
The judge released Petrova from ice custody, but remained in the custody of the United States Marshals Service with smuggling before its publication on Thursday.
Colleagues and academics have testified on behalf of Petrova, saying that he is doing valuable research to advance in cancer care.