TALLINN, Estonia — In a significant gesture aimed at repairing its strained relations with the United States, Belarusian authorities announced the release of a U.S. citizen, a Belarusian journalist affiliated with a U.S. government-funded media outlet, and an opposition supporter on Wednesday. This release appears to be a strategic move following the earlier liberation of another American detainee, Anastassia Nuhfer, last month.
Among those freed is Andrey Kuznechyk, a journalist from the Belarus service of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, who had been serving a sentence for allegedly being involved in an “extremist group.” Additionally, Alena Maushuk, a mother of three who had been convicted for her participation in protests, was also released from custody.
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, the leader of the Belarusian opposition currently in exile, expressed her gratitude to U.S. President Donald Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio for the efforts that led to the release of the three individuals, emphasizing that these actions were the result of collaborative endeavors.
This development follows an election held last month in which President Alexander Lukashenko, often referred to as “Europe’s last dictator,” extended his rule for over three decades. The election results, widely criticized by the opposition as fraudulent, have led to severe governmental crackdowns in response to widespread protests that erupted in 2020.
Since then, Lukashenko has pardoned more than 250 individuals, seeking to restore relationships with Western nations that soured after brutal crackdowns on dissent. More than 65,000 people were detained during the unrest, with many suffering violence at the hands of authorities. Currently, over 1,200 political prisoners remain in Belarus, including Ales Bialiatski, a Nobel Peace Prize laureate and founder of the Viasna Human Rights Center.
The ongoing repression of dissent coupled with Lukashenko’s support for Russia during its invasion of Ukraine has resulted in extensive sanctions from the U.S. and the European Union, which have significantly impacted Belarus’ economy, reminiscent of its Soviet past. Valery Karbalevich, an independent political analyst, noted that this apparent willingness from Lukashenko signals a desire to negotiate with the Trump administration for lifting sanctions in exchange for further releases of political prisoners.
Kuznechyk had been imprisoned for over three years on charges described by rights advocates as politically motivated, receiving a six-year sentence. Following his release, Stephen Capus, President & CEO of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, celebrated the reunion of Kuznechyk with his family and expressed hope that Ihar Losik, another detained journalist from the outlet, would also be granted freedom soon.
