Latest news with #YourasZiankovich
Toronto Star
30-04-2025
- Politics
- Toronto Star
Belarus releases US citizen who was jailed for years
TALLINN, Estonia (AP) — Belarus on Wednesday 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, was convicted on a number of charges, including plotting a coup against Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko, and given an 11-year sentence in September 2022. He then had six months added to his sentence later that year.
Washington Post
30-04-2025
- Politics
- Washington Post
Belarus releases US citizen who was jailed for years
TALLINN, Estonia — Belarus on Wednesday 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, was convicted on a number of charges, including plotting a coup against Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko , and given an 11-year sentence in September 2022. He then had six months added to his sentence later that year.
Reuters
30-04-2025
- Politics
- Reuters
US secures release from Belarus of Minsk-born American, US official says
WASHINGTON, April 30 (Reuters) - The United States has secured the release from Belarus of an American who was arrested three years ago in Moscow, a senior U.S. official told Reuters on Wednesday. Youras Ziankovich, a 47-year-old naturalized American who was born in Minsk and lives in Texas, was released across the border of Belarus into Lithuania and is on his way home, said the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity. The Reuters Tariff Watch newsletter is your daily guide to the latest global trade and tariff news. Sign up here. In April 2021, Ziankovich was picked up while having lunch in Moscow. He was hooded, handcuffed and driven to Belarus, where he was tried in secret by a Minsk court and sent to prison for allegedly plotting a coup, sources have told Reuters in the past. The U.S. official said the Lithuanian government and the U.S. embassy in Lithuania played a role in securing the release of Ziankovich, who the U.S. considered wrongfully detained. U.S. President Donald Trump has made a concerted effort to bring back Americans held around the world, tasking U.S. special envoy Adam Boehler with much of the work. The official said Ziankovich was the 47th detainee released by a variety of countries around the world since Trump took office on January 20. The official said the release was a positive sign from the government of Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko, a close ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin. In addition, the official said an American who had been held in Kuwait was returning to the United States on Wednesday. Tony Holden was part of a group of 23 Americans detained in Kuwait and pardoned in March. Holden was in Kuwait as a military contractor and was detained on minor drug-related charges.
Straits Times
30-04-2025
- Politics
- Straits Times
US secures release from Belarus of Minsk-born American, US official says
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 three years ago in Moscow, a senior U.S. official told Reuters on Wednesday. Youras Ziankovich, a 47-year-old naturalized American who was born in Minsk and lives in Texas, was released across the border of Belarus into Lithuania and is on his way home, said the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity. In April 2021, Ziankovich was picked up while having lunch in Moscow. He was hooded, handcuffed and driven to Belarus, where he was tried in secret by a Minsk court and sent to prison for allegedly plotting a coup, sources have told Reuters in the past. The U.S. official said the Lithuanian government and the U.S. embassy in Lithuania played a role in securing the release of Ziankovich, who the U.S. considered wrongfully detained. U.S. President Donald Trump has made a concerted effort to bring back Americans held around the world, tasking U.S. special envoy Adam Boehler with much of the work. The official said Ziankovich was the 47th detainee released by a variety of countries around the world since Trump took office on January 20. The official said the release was a positive sign from the government of Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko, a close ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin. In addition, the official said an American who had been held in Kuwait was returning to the United States on Wednesday. Tony Holden was part of a group of 23 Americans detained in Kuwait and pardoned in March. Holden was in Kuwait as a military contractor and was detained on minor drug-related charges. REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
CNN
30-04-2025
- Politics
- CNN
American detained in Belarus is freed, US official says
An American detained in Belarus has been freed, a US official said Wednesday. Youras Ziankovich was arrested in Moscow in 2021 and then was brought to Belarus's capital Minsk, where he was accused of being part of a US-backed coup plot against Belarus' strongman leader Alexander Lukashenko. The US State Department denied any such involvement. There was not a prisoner swap that led to Ziankovich's release, the official said. According to Global Reach, an organization that advocated for his case, Ziankovich did not have access to US officials until January 2025. 'I knew this day would come. It took 1,480 days, but he survived and is on his way home to me and to America,' Alena Dzenisavets, his wife, said. 'I want to thank President Trump, Secretary Rubio, and Special Envoy Boehler and the SPEHA staff. I also want to express my appreciation to Rep. Morgan Luttrell and the nonprofits Global Reach and the James W. Foley Legacy Foundation for their help advocating for Youras.' This story is breaking and will be updated.
