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.
