Belarus releases US citizen accused of plotting to assassinate Lukashenko – CNN

Youras Ziankovich, an American who was detained on charges of allegedly plotting to assassinate self-proclaimed president Alexander Lukashenko, has been released from prison in Belarus.

Source: European Pravda, citing CNN

Details: Ziankovich was arrested in Moscow in 2021 and then taken to Minsk, where he was accused of participating in a US-backed plot to assassinate the self-proclaimed president of Belarus.

A US State Department spokesperson said that Ziankovich's release did not result from a prisoner exchange.

After his release from Belarusian custody, Ziankovich was taken to neighbouring Lithuania, accompanied by US officials, including Chris Smith, the Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Europe.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio confirmed that an American citizen had been released from Belarus but did not name him.

"I knew this day would come. It took 1,480 days, but he survived and is on his way home to me and to America," Alena Dzenisavets, Ziankovich's wife, told CNN.

Background:

• In February 2025 Chris Smith secretly visited Belarus and took three political prisoners back with him, including an unnamed US citizen.
• According to media reports, the State Department suggested that Lukashenko release political prisoners in exchange for sanctions relief.

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