# U.S. Justice Department asks court to drop case against Russian Harvard researcher accused of smuggling frog embryos

https://mins.news/en/item/128953

- Meduza, 2026-11-04 11:29 UTC
- Society
- Original: https://meduza.io/en/news/2026/11/04/u-s-justice-department-seeks-to-drop-charges-against-russian-harvard-researcher-accused-of-smuggling-frog-embryos

> The U.S. Justice Department has asked a court to dismiss its case against Russian scientist Kseniia Petrova, saying the resources needed to continue outweigh the public interest in resolving it. Petrova, who works at Harvard Medical School, was detained in February while returning from France with undeclared frog embryos. She faces smuggling, false-testimony, and concealment charges, with up to 20 years in prison for smuggling. Immigration authorities considered deporting her to Russia; Petrova said that could put her in danger because she had publicly opposed the war in Ukraine.

## Related coverage

- [DOJ drops case against Russian researcher accused of smuggling frog embryos](https://mins.news/en/item/129911) — ABC News, 2026-11-04
- [Federal judge dismisses charges against Harvard scientist accused of smuggling frog embryos](https://mins.news/en/item/129470) — NBC News, 2026-11-04