Washington: Belarus frees innocent US woman

January 26, Pozirk. American national Anastassia Nuhfer has been released from detention in Belarus, the United States Secretary of State Marco Rubio has said on X.
He linked the release of the woman whom Washington considers innocent to the “leadership” of the new US President Donald Trump. Rubio did not disclose any further details, noting only that Nuhfer was detained during Joe Biden’s presidency.
The news comes as Belarus is holding its seventh presidential election where Alaksandar Łukašenka, in power since 1994, wants to secure another term in office.
Rights defenders do not have any information on Nuhfer and her persecution in Belarus. The Viasna Human Rights Center reported that she is 48 years old.
Belarusian opposition leader Śviatłana Cichanoŭskaja has welcomed the release, expressing gratitude to the US for “advocacy on her behalf and for all political prisoners in Belarus.” “Every one of them must be freed. We will continue to fight for the release of all unjustly detained,” she has said on X.
Earlier today, Łukašenka has claimed that he had direct contact with the US without interference from exiled Belarusian opposition.
About a week ago, the state-run ONT TV channel aired an interview with Belarusian-US lawyer Juraś Ziankovič, serving a sentence for alleged conspiracy to assassinate Łukašenka. Earlier, the same channel aired interviews with journalists associated with the US-funded RFE/RL – political prisoners Andrej Kuźniečyk, Ihar Łosik and Ihar Karniej.
Last September, Ziankovič was allowed to reach out publicly to Trump, then a candidate in the US election, asking for help to return to the US as soon as possible.

Opposition leader praises Trump for pioneering sanctions against Łukašenka in 2020
- Politics, SocietyMałanka Media journalist beaten in VilniusThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsLithuanian MP appeals to prosecutor’s office regarding Cichanoŭski’s remarksThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Politics, Society
- Germany news, Politics
- PoliticsRights defenders declare eight people to be political prisonersThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Politics, SocietyDeadline misstep leads to deportation for Belarusian family in SwedenThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- EconomyBelarus shows low coverage of external debt by international reservesThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- SocietyPoland seizes Belarusian cigarettes hidden in trucksThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Politics, SocietyMoscow reasserts naming rules for Belarusian Orthodox ChurchThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Economy, PoliticsPoland sanctions Belarusian Cement CompanyThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Economy
- Politics, SocietyInterior ministry brands brother of jailed journalist Łosik, 13 others as extremistsThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- SocietyInvestigators uncover drug trafficking route via BelarusThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- SocietyExplosion wrecks at major gas pipeline near MinskThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Society
- Society
- Politics, SportWorld Sailing: Belarusian athletes can compete as neutralsThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Politics, Security
- SecurityPoland pulls out of Ottawa TreatyThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- SocietyBelarus to raise childcare benefitThe material is available only to POZIRK+