The Trump administration has notched another major diplomatic win by securing the release of Youras Ziankovich, an American citizen who had been wrongfully imprisoned in Belarus for nearly four years. This marks the 47th U.S. citizen brought home under President Trump’s leadership since his return to the White House—without a single prisoner swap.
Ziankovich, a naturalized U.S. citizen originally from Minsk, was arrested in Moscow in 2021 and secretly extradited to Belarus. There, in a closed-door trial orchestrated by the regime of authoritarian leader Alexander Lukashenko, Ziankovich was convicted on charges of allegedly plotting a coup and sentenced to over 13 years in prison. International observers widely condemned the charges as politically motivated.
The Trump administration secured his release without making any concessions, a stark contrast to previous administrations that often relied on uneven swaps or high-profile trades. The successful negotiation reinforces the administration’s firm stance: American citizens must never be used as bargaining chips by hostile regimes.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio praised the outcome, calling it “another example of President Trump’s fearless diplomacy.” He emphasized that no prior administration had achieved such a consistent and aggressive track record in repatriating wrongfully detained Americans.
The operation was coordinated with support from Lithuanian officials, who helped facilitate Ziankovich’s safe passage out of Belarus. From there, he was reunited with his family and is now en route back to the United States. His wife, Alena Dzenisavets, expressed deep gratitude after what she described as a 1,480-day nightmare. She thanked President Trump, Secretary Rubio, and Special Envoy Adam Boehler for their tireless work in securing her husband’s freedom.
This latest success follows a series of similar wins for the administration, which has freed Americans from unlawful detention in countries such as Russia, Venezuela, Afghanistan, and Iran. Unlike prior approaches, Trump’s strategy has been rooted in strength, not appeasement—applying maximum pressure while refusing to compromise U.S. national security or values.
Officials say more releases are expected in the coming months, as the administration continues to identify and dismantle hostage diplomacy networks operated by adversarial governments. Each release is part of a broader foreign policy doctrine that prioritizes American citizens—and holds foreign regimes accountable for human rights violations.
The release of Youras Ziankovich isn’t just a diplomatic win—it’s a powerful message: under President Trump, American lives matter, and no citizen will be left behind.