Chris Van Heerdan was waiting for girlfriend Ksenia Karelina to return from her trip to Russia to propose.
Instead, the South African boxer has spent the last 13 months fighting for the dual Russian-American citizen’s freedom and safe return to the United States.
“I was going to pop the question,” an emotional Van Heerdan, 37, told The Post. “But my plans were derailed.”
Karelina, 33, an amateur ballerina and esthetician is wasting away in a Russian prison, serving a 12 year sentence for treason over a $51 donation to a US based charity benefitting Ukraine.
The pair haven’t spoken since January 27, 2024. They’d rung in 2024 with a romantic trip to Isntanbul and then she visited family in Yekaterinburg, Russia for a month while Van Heerdan returned to their home of Los Angeles
“The thing is, she didn’t do this in Russia as a Russian citizen. She did this in America, as an American citizen,” he said of the small donation made in 2022.
Van Heerden and his good friend, “Lone Survivor” director Peter Berg spoke with The Post about this protracted nightmare and their renewed hope, sparked by the new Trump administration.
“I am very optimistic and positive about the new administration under President Trump, and I believe he can get it done soon,” said Van Heerden.
“My message is simple: Ksenia is proud to be an American citizen and loves America very much. I beg President Trump to bring Ksenia home; she is not doing well, and each day in prison is a day longer in recovering from this nightmare. Please bring Ksenia home.”
He also told how Karelina is surviving in prison by giving facial massages to the other inmates, which has helped improve her relationships with other inmates.
“This is who Ksenia is. She can walk into any room and anyone will love her because she’s just a bright uplifting, positive person. She is trying her very best to hang on.”
“She knows I am fighting and she has said, ‘that’s the one thing that keeps me positive is the fact that I know you are fighting for me’.”
There have also been positive developments with the release of American school teacher, Marc Fogel, earlier this month and Russian media recognizing Karelina as a US citizen.
“Russia released a statement on state broadcast TV and acknowledged, ‘We are in communication with America. They are seeking the release of Ksenia and are we are very much interested in making that happen’. That is massive,” said Van Heerdan.
Last week marked a dramatic diplomatic shift with Trump saying he plans to normalize relations between the US and Russia and Secretary of State Marco Rubio meeting Russian officials in Saudi Arabia, working to end the bloody war in Ukraine.
“Right after that meeting, [the Russians] made the statement,” said Van Heerdan.
In addition to the talks, Fogel, who had been sentenced to 14 years in a Russian prison for possessing an ounce of medical marijuana, was freed by the Kremlin in a prisoner swap. He was held for three and a half years.
“To see Marc Fogel coming back gives me a lot of hope to know this is a good start. That bringing prisoners back is possible.”
But Fogel’s homecoming – captured with a poignant image of him kissing the ground as he walked off the plane – also stirred mixed emotions for the boxer.
“I’m not going to lie. I thought Ksenia was coming back,” said Van Heerdan who said he is the intermediary between his girlfriend’s lawyer in Russia and the State Department.
He said the Biden administration, which he also praised, told him “if anyone was coming back, it’s Ksenia because she is not guilty of the crime.”
He’s trying to not dwell on his disappointment and instead be strong for Karelina with whom, he communicates through letters. He is worried for her mental and physical health as she recently fainted and was taken to the hospital.
Meanwhile, Van Heerdan had tried to convince Karelina not to travel to Russia because of the war with Ukraine and feels lingering guilt he reluctantly bought her the plane ticket. Karelina hadn’t been home since 2021 and was eager to see her baby sister and elderly grandparents.
When she arrived, he said she was flagged and detained for 16 hours. Authorities kept her phone and passport for three weeks. When she was told everything was fine, she went to collect her belongings but was arrested for ‘hooliganism’.
They upgraded the charges to treason after finding the bank transaction for the donation to the charity Razom, which says it’s “contributing to a secure, prosperous and democratic Ukraine.”
In August, she was sentenced to 12 years.
In the meantime, her loved ones are walking a precarious line. They want to ensure her story is out there, but they have to be careful to keep their emotions in check and not say anything that could damage her shot at freedom.
“It’s a chess game. It’s a political chess game,” said Van Heerdan adding that he doesn’t publicly share much of what she writes to him.
Berg said he wants to make sure people don’t lose their humanity, saying: “While this perverse game is being played out [its important] that people remember her. That this young girl is in a really rough spot. She is suffering and we really want to get her home.”
He said they’re “appreciative” of Rubio, JD Vance and President Trump’s efforts.
And Van Heerdan feels there’s been a significant shift.
“For the first time in 13 months, I am actually feeling that we are very close to getting her home.”
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