Prosecutors drop charges against Harvard scientist over frog embryos

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 4 Nov, 11:21 · Archive

Federal prosecutors are dismissing smuggling charges against Russian-born Harvard scientist Kseniia Petrova after she claimed vindictive prosecution.

Federal prosecutors in Boston have moved to dismiss criminal charges against Kseniia Petrova, a Russian-born biomedical researcher at Harvard Medical School, accused of smuggling frog embryos into the United States. Petrova claimed the Trump administration had singled her out for prosecution, and a federal judge cleared the way for her to obtain evidence supporting her allegation of vindictive prosecution.

Petrova’s visa was revoked and she was taken into custody by US immigration authorities at Boston airport in February 2025 after returning from France. US Customs and Border Protection agents had found undeclared frog embryos in her checked duffel bag. She was charged with smuggling and making false statements and released on bail in June 2025, pleading not guilty. According to the New York Post, she has said her boss asked her to bring back the frog embryo samples for experiments.

In their court filing, prosecutors acknowledged they viewed Petrova's vindictive prosecution claims as 'meritless' but said continuing the case would 'divert significant time and attention from more substantial federal interests'. Her lawyer, William Fick, said she had 'shown tremendous courage' and the dismissal would end 'this chapter of her terrible ordeal'. The US Attorney's office in Massachusetts declined to comment further.

How it is being reported

• US moves to drop frog embryo smuggling charges against Harvard scientistUS prosecutors moved on Tuesday to drop criminal charges against a Russian-born scientist at Harvard University accused of smuggling frog embryos into the United States after she argued the Trump administration had singled her out for prosecution.New York Post · 4 Nov, 10:56
• Prosecutors to drop charges against Russian-born Harvard scientist accused of smuggling frog embryosProsecutors have moved to drop criminal charges against a Russian-born scientist at Harvard University accused of smuggling frog embryos into the US. Kseniia Petrova argued the Trump administration had singled her out for prosecution. Federal prosecutors in Boston said in a court filing they were dismissing the charges against Ms Petrova after a federal judge cleared the way for her to obtain evidence supporting her claim that she was being vindictively prosecuted. A spokesman for US Attorney Leah Foley, the Trump administration's top federal prosecutor in Massachusetts, declined to comment.…GB News · 4 Nov, 01:27

In this story: Kseniia Petrova · Harvard University · Harvard Medical School · US Attorney Leah Foley · Boston · United States

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