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

- Cichanoŭskaja meets with Latvian presidentThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Politics
- SocietyBelarus supplies humanitarian aid to flood-stricken KenyaThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Society
- Politics, SecurityLatvia, Poland report irregular border crossing attemptsThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Politics, Security
- Security, SocietyBelarus’ airline Biełavija cancels two more Tel Aviv flightsThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Politics, SecurityPoland installs system to track flying objects at border with BelarusThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Politics, SocietyNobel laureate Bialacki, Cichanoŭskaja’s adviser meet with UN rights commissionerThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Politics, Security
- SocietyLithuania records a decline in cigarette smuggling by airThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Economy, SocietyGovernment boasts record tourism service exports in 2025The material is available only to POZIRK+
- Politics, Society
- Economy
- EconomyBelarus posts 0.5 percent in industrial price growth in January-FebruaryThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Politics, SocietyBialacki calls for global attention to Belarus as reprisals intensifyThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Politics, SocietyStatkievič honors unbroken Belarusian dissidentsThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- EconomyTransport ministry plans to repair 25,000 km of roads by 2030The material is available only to POZIRK+
- Economy, SocietyState Control Committee targets 700 people over trade rule violationsThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Politics, Society


