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Freeing the American, who wasn't identified, follows last
month's release of another U.S. citizen, Anastassia Nuhfer.
Also freed was Andrey Kuznechyk, a Belarusian journalist for the
Belarus service of the U.S. government-funded Radio Free
Europe/Radio Liberty, who had been convicted of being part in an
“extremist group.”
Additionally, Belarusian mother of three Alena Maushuk, who was
convicted and sentenced on charges of taking part in riots, also
was released.
Belarus’ opposition leader-in-exile Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya
thanked U.S. President Donald Trump and Secretary of State Marco
Rubio for the release of the three inmates, citing "the joint
efforts that have made it possible.”
The move comes after Belarus' authoritarian President Alexander
Lukashenko extended his more than three-decade rule in last
month's election that the opposition has dismissed as farce.
Lukashenko, often dubbed “Europe’s last dictator,” has pardoned
more than 250 people since July as he sought to mend ties with
the West that were cut after Belarusian authorities responded to
massive protests triggered by his 2020 reelection with a massive
crackdown.
More than 65,000 people were arrested, thousands beaten and
leading opposition figures have fled abroad or were thrown in
prison. The country holds more than 1,200 political prisoners,
including Nobel Peace Prize laureate Ales Bialiatski, founder of
the Viasna Human Rights Center.
The repression against dissent and Lukashenko’s support for
Russia's invasion of Ukraine has triggered a slew of U.S. and EU
sanctions that have dealt a heavy blow to Belarus' Soviet-style
economy.
“Lukashenko is sending clear signals to the Trump administration
about his desire to start bargaining for lifting the sanctions
in exchange for the release of political prisoners,” said Valery
Karbalevich, an independent political analyst. “Minsk is
awaiting reaction to its ‘goodwill’ gestures."
Kuznechyk, who was sentenced to six years in prison on charges
that he and rights activists dismissed as politically-driven,
has spent more than three years behind bars.
“This is a joyous day for Andrey, his wife, and their two young
children. After more than three years apart, this family is
together again thanks to President Trump,” RFE/RL President &
CEO Stephen Capus said in a statement, voicing hope that another
imprisoned journalist of the outlet, Ihar Losik, will also be
freed.
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