Belarusian-US lawyer Ziankovič released
April 30, Pozirk. Belarus has released Juraś Ziankovič, CNN reported, quoting a US official.
Ziankovič was arrested in Moscow in 2021 and then transferred to Minsk, where he was accused of being part of a supposed US-backed conspiracy against Alaksandar Łukašenka.
There was no prisoner exchange that led to the lawyer’s release.
Once free, he was taken to neighboring Lithuania by a team of US officials.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has confirmed the news, without naming Ziankovič.
The lawyer’s wife, Alena Dzienisaviec, thanked Rubio, US President Donald Trump, his special envoy for hostage affairs and others for the release.
The Minsk Regional Court in September 2022 sentenced Ziankovič to 11 years in prison after finding him guilty of conspiracy to overthrow the government, forming an extremist group and incitement to hatred.
In December 2022, he was reportedly tried in the Minsk region’s Miadziel district for insulting a state servant. The judge added six months to his sentence.
During Trump’s first term, the United States sought to improve diplomatic relations with Minsk, but those efforts were put on hold after Łukašenka declared himself the winner of the 2020 election.
He also cracked down hard on protesters and civil society, drawing criticism from the Trump administration.

Ziankovič given two more years for disobedience
- EconomyKuźniacoŭ replaces Jafimaŭ as industry ministerThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsRights defenders label seven as political prisonersThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsLukašenka appoints ambassadors to Africa, Middle East, Latin AmericaThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Economy
- PoliticsŁukašenka appoints more than a dozen local officialsThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- SocietyMPs vote to criminalize unauthorized possession of dronesThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Politics
- PoliticsPaźniak: Washington can pull Belarus away from RussiaThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Politics
- SecurityBelarus to open six new border outpostsThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- SecurityLithuania detects irregular migration at Belarus border after days of calmThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- EconomyBelarus’ cattle population shrinksThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsMinsk brands 33 more people as extremistsThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsBiełaja Ruś must support “national leader” during 2030 vote – party bossThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- EconomyOne in five Belarusian entities report losses in early 2025The material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsCichanoŭskaja greets Ukrainians on Constitution DayThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Politics
- Economy
- PoliticsReprisals: Volunteer fighter’s brother sentenced to 1.5 yearsThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsOpposition diplomat says reprisals continue, calls for comprehensive approachThe material is available only to POZIRK+