Belarusian journalist Andrei Kuznechyk was released from prison on Wednesday after being detained for more than three years, according to Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty.
Kuznechyk, who U.S. officials had dubbed a political prisoner, was among four individuals released in recent weeks.
The terms of the deal were not immediately clear.
“This is a joyous day for Andrey, his wife, Alesya, and their two young children. After more than three years apart, this family is together again thanks to President [Donald] Trump,” RFE/RL President and CEO Stephen Capus said in a statement.
“We are also grateful to Secretary Rubio and his team, and to the Lithuanian government for their support,” Capus added.
Kuznechyk’s release comes a day after American schoolteacher Marc Fogel returned to the U.S. after being released from Russia.
Kuznechyk was initially sentenced in November 2021 to 10 days in jail on hooliganism charges, which he rejected at the time, according to RFE/RL.
When he was set to be released, Belarusian authorities kept him imprisoned and added an additional charge of forming an extremist group, according to the outlet.
In 2022, a Belarus court sentenced him to six years in prison.
In addition to Kuznechyk, an unnamed American citizen; Alena Maushuk, who was detained in 2020 and convicted of participating in “mass disorder” in a pro-democracy demonstration and Anastasia Nuhfer, another American citizen detained in 2024, were released Wednesday.
This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.
