A US diplomat in Lithuania, Kara McDonald, announced on Wednesday evening that Belarus had released three prisoners, including an American citizen. According to her, the individuals are now in Lithuania. The US State Department’s spokesperson, Adam Bohler, stated that the freed American had requested to remain anonymous.
Among the released individuals is also Andrei Kusnetschik, a journalist from the Belarusian Radio Free Europe office, who was arrested in 2021 and served a sentence for founding or participating in an extremist organization.
“This is a happy day for Andrei, his wife and their two young children” said RFE/RL Director Stephen Capus. “After more than three years of separation, this family is reunited thanks to President Trump.”
Opposition politician Svetlana Tikhanovskaya, living in exile, also announced the release of activist Yelena Mowschuk, who had served a six-year sentence for her participation in nationwide protests against the government.
The White House’s spokesperson, Karoline Leavitt, stated in a statement that the step was a diplomatic success for the Trump administration. “It is an impressive victory, especially after the release of Marc Fogel.”
Fogel, an American teacher, was released earlier this week as part of a prisoner exchange with Russia. He was sentenced to 14 years in prison for being caught with marijuana at Moscow’s airport. Fogel has since returned to the US. In return, the US government, according to media reports, plans to release Russian citizen Alexander Winnik, who was convicted of money laundering.