Additional Coverage:
- Journalist, American among 3 prisoners freed from Belarus (abcnews.go.com)
Local journalist Andrei Kuznechyk and an American citizen were released from Belarusian prisons on Wednesday. A third, unnamed prisoner was also freed.
Kuznechyk, considered a political prisoner by U.S. officials, spent over three years in detention. The details of the release agreement remain undisclosed.
Celebrations followed the news. Statements highlighted the joy of Kuznechyk’s reunion with his wife, Alesya, and their two children. Gratitude was expressed to officials involved in securing the release.
This release comes shortly after American teacher Marc Fogel returned home from Russia.
Kuznechyk’s ordeal began in 2021 with a 10-day sentence for hooliganism, a charge he denied. Upon completion of the sentence, he was further detained and accused of forming an extremist group. He ultimately received a six-year prison sentence in 2022.
Along with Kuznechyk and the unnamed American, Alena Maushuk was also released. Maushuk was detained in 2020 for participating in pro-democracy demonstrations. Another American, Anastasia Nuhfer, detained in 2024, was also freed recently.
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- Journalist, American among 3 prisoners freed from Belarus (abcnews.go.com)