Judge Orders Release of Russian Harvard Scientist, Smuggling Case Continues

BURLINGTON, VT — May 28, 2025 A federal judge on Wednesday, May 28, citing due-process concerns, ordered U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement to release Kseniia Petrova, 31, a Russian post-doctoral fellow at Harvard Medical School detained since mid-February for undeclared frog-embryo samples discovered at Boston Logan Airport. Chief Judge Christina Reiss said there was “no factual or legal basis” for the detention and ruled that Petrova posed no security threat or flight risk. She remains in U.S. Marshals Service custody pending transfer to Massachusetts for a bail hearing.

Customs agents arrested Petrova on Feb. 16 after a canine flagged her bag. Inside were eight vials of fixed Xenopus embryos supplied by France’s Institut Curie for her aging-research project. Prosecutors first handled the lapse as an immigration matter but on May 15 added a felony charge of smuggling goods into the United States—an offense punishable by up to 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

Defense lawyers say the samples were harmless and that Petrova, who protested Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine, should have faced only a civil fine. Reiss left deportation proceedings intact; ICE could still try to re-detain her after any bond release.

Harvard says it is monitoring the case, and scientists warn the dispute could deter foreign researchers and damage U.S. competitiveness. Petrova studies cellular rejuvenation and lipid metabolism in aging. A Boston bail hearing is expected next week; trial dates are still unset.

*Sources:
*https://www.nytimes.com/2025/05/28/science/russian-scientist-harvard-charges.html *https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/judge-questions-deportation-case-harvard-scientist-accused-smuggling-f-rcna202488