US EditionAmerican detained in Belarus is freed, US official says
- An American named Youras Ziankovich was freed from detention in Minsk, Belarus, as announced by a U.S. Official on April 30, 2025.
- Ziankovich was arrested in Moscow in 2021 and taken to Belarus, where authorities accused him of involvement in a U.S.-backed coup attempt against Alexander Lukashenko.
- The U.S. Government denied any role in the alleged coup, and Ziankovich lacked access to U.S. Officials until January 2025 during his 1,480-day detention.
- Secretary Marco Rubio confirmed the release without naming Ziankovich, posting on X that it occurred “Thanks to @POTUS's leadership,” while advocacy groups like Global Reach supported the case.
- Ziankovich’s release, unconnected to a prisoner swap, resulted from diplomatic efforts and advocacy, highlighting ongoing challenges for U.S. Citizens wrongfully detained abroad.
42 Articles
42 Articles
American Convicted of Plotting Coup Is Freed by Belarus
An American citizen convicted of plotting against Belarus' president is now free after years behind bars on charges the US government dismissed as fabricated. Belarus on Wednesday released Youras Ziankovich, who was convicted of plotting a coup and the assassination of President Alexander Lukashenko, the AP reports. Secretary of State...
Colorado Springs Gazette
Belarus releases US citizen who was jailed for years
Belarus has released a U.S. citizen who had been jailed on allegations of plotting to assassinate the country’s authoritarian leader, charges his supporters and the U.S. government called bogus. Youras Ziankovich, a lawyer who has dual Belarusian and U.S. citizenship,…
US secures release from Belarus of Minsk-born American, US official says
WASHINGTON - The United States has secured the release from Belarus of an American who was arrested in Moscow and held on coup plot allegations, a senior U.S. official told Reuters on Wednesday. Read more at straitstimes.com.
Trump Admin Secures Release Of 47th Wrongfully Detained American Citizen Abroad
Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced on Wednesday that the Trump administration secured the release of the 47th unjustly detained American citizen since taking office 100 days ago. Youras Ziankovich was released without a prisoner swap this week and brought to neighboring Lithuania by a team of American officials, including Deputy Assistant Secretary of State ...
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