Belarus Releases Three Detainees Including US Citizen

The Facts

• Belarus has released three detainees, including an unidentified American citizen and Andrey Kuznechyk, a journalist for US-funded Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, who had been imprisoned for over three years on charges of participating in an extremist organization.

• The third released detainee was identified as Belarusian activist Alena Maushuk, who was detained in 2020 and sentenced to six years for allegedly participating in mass riots, and is reportedly in serious health condition according to opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya.

• US officials, including Deputy Assistant Secretary Chris Smith, conducted a special operation by crossing into Belarus to meet with authorities in Minsk, where the detainees were handed over before being transported to Lithuania.