Overview
- Youras Ziankovich, a dual U.S.-Belarusian citizen, was arrested in Moscow in 2021 and sentenced to 13½ years in Belarus on unfounded coup-plot charges.
- The United States secured his release without a prisoner swap, transferring him to Lithuania with assistance from U.S. and Lithuanian officials.
- Secretary of State Marco Rubio credited President Trump's leadership and diplomatic efforts for Ziankovich's freedom, marking the 47th wrongful detention case resolved since January 2025.
- Ziankovich’s wife, Alena Dzenisavets, thanked advocacy groups and U.S. officials for their role in securing his release after 1,480 days in detention.
- Belarus, under President Alexander Lukashenko, continues to face criticism for political repression, with over 1,200 political prisoners still detained.