The release from a Belarusian prison of US citizen Yury Ziankovich, sentenced to 11 years in a penal colony for allegedly plotting an assassination attempt on the dictator, was reported at the end of April. He is currently undergoing a rehabilitation program in Texas.
This information was conveyed to the Belarusian portal Nasha Niva by Ziankovich's wife, Alena Dzianisavets.
According to Dzianisavets, the US government runs a unique rehabilitation program for American citizens released from prisons abroad, including medical examinations, psychological assistance, job search support, and assistance for families. Yury Ziankovich is currently participating in this program. Examinations have shown that his health is good, although time is needed for a full recovery, said Alena Dzianisaviec.
On April 30, Belarusian-American lawyer Yury Ziankovich was released from prison in Belarus. His photo was taken at the US Embassy in Vilnius and appeared online on the profile of American journalist and lawyer Greta Van Susteren. As Alyaksandr Lukashenka's Spokeswoman, Natallia Eismant, later stated, Ziankovich was released from prison "at the request of the US presidential administration."
Yury Ziankovich was one of the main defendants in the politically motivated "conspirators' case." In 2022, he was sentenced to 11 years in prison for allegedly plotting an assassination attempt on the dictator. Later, this sentence was extended for "malicious disobedience to the prison administration."
Belarusian propaganda broadcast several videos featuring Yury Ziankovich. The first of these, in which Ziankovich was presented as one of the organizers of the assassination attempt on Lukashenka, appeared before the start of his trial.
In September 2024, Ziankovich gave an interview to Belarus 1 TV, in which he made a self-incriminating statement detailing the alleged conspiracy and appealing to Lukashenka for a pardon. Ziankovich last appeared in the film "Freedom of Speech," broadcast by another Belarusian state channel ONT. The program aimed to denigrate the activities of journalists from the Belarusian service of Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty.
am / belsat.eu according to nashaniva.com
