On Thursday, Kseniia Petrova, a Russian-born cancer researcher and Harvard University associate, was released by a federal judge following a four-month detention, though she remains under travel restrictions. The decision was made as part of an agreement between federal prosecutors and her immigration attorney, with the judge imposing travel restrictions and maintaining custody of her passport. Petrova, 30, was arrested in February after returning from France, where she had obtained frog embryos for research purposes.
Upon her arrival at Boston Logan International Airport, U.S. Customs and Border Protection questioned her about the materials she was carrying. Federal authorities allege that Petrova lied about the contents of the package, which contained superfine sections of frog embryos, and that her phone messages revealed plans to smuggle the materials without declaring them. While she has not been charged with a crime yet, she is set to return to court next week for a probable cause hearing on the smuggling charge.
Petrova has expressed gratitude for the support she has received from the public and colleagues, who have testified on her behalf, highlighting her crucial research in developing a potential cancer cure. Her immigration attorney, Greg Romanovsky, stated that she is currently weighing her options regarding her future in the United States, with offers from various countries interested in her work. However, she remains under the supervision of the U.S. Marshals Service and must report any contact with law enforcement to her supervising officer within 24 hours.
The case has drawn attention to the intersection between scientific research and immigration laws, particularly concerning the movement of biological materials across borders. While the Department of Homeland Security has maintained that Petrova’s actions were intentional and potentially illegal, her colleagues argue that her research holds significant scientific value, which could justify a more lenient approach to her case. As the legal process continues, the broader implications of such cases on international collaboration in science remain under scrutiny.