In a diplomatic breakthrough, Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced Wednesday that the Trump administration has secured the release of Youras Ziankovich, an American citizen wrongfully detained by Belarus since 2021. His release marks the 47th such recovery of an American under Trump’s leadership, a figure Rubio says highlights the administration’s swift and effective efforts to bring citizens home.
Ziankovich, who had been accused by Belarusian officials of involvement in a U.S.-backed coup attempt, was originally detained in Moscow before being transferred to Minsk. Despite the serious charges levied against him by the Lukashenko regime, no formal exchange was conducted to facilitate his freedom. Instead, American diplomatic personnel—including Deputy Assistant Secretary for European Affairs Chris Smith—coordinated a quiet mission that successfully delivered Ziankovich to neighboring Lithuania earlier this week.
Rubio praised the president’s efforts, stating, “No president has done so much, so quickly, to keep Americans safe abroad.” That message was echoed by Ziankovich’s wife, Alena Dzenisavets, who emotionally remarked, “It took 1,480 days, but he survived and is on his way home… I want to thank President Trump, Secretary Rubio, and Special Envoy Boehler,” while also acknowledging support from lawmakers and nonprofit organizations.
Ziankovich is not the first American detained in Belarus to be returned home. Earlier this year, an unnamed American and Anastasia Nuhfer were also released, thanks in part to the same U.S. diplomatic pressure campaign. “The Belarusians are responding,” said Smith at the time. “We are going to keep working until we get all Americans out.”
The effort in Belarus reflects a larger policy trend. Trump officials have also secured high-profile releases from Russia, Afghanistan, and Venezuela. Among them was Marc Fogel, a teacher sentenced to 14 years in Russia for possession of medical marijuana. Upon returning, Fogel called Trump “a hero.” Another recent case involved Russian-American ballerina Ksenia Karelina, who was sentenced to 12 years for treason after donating just over $50 to a Ukrainian aid group while visiting family.
The administration’s success in recovering Americans from hostile or adversarial regimes sends a clear message internationally: the United States, under Trump’s leadership, is willing to engage with pressure, leverage, and quiet diplomacy to protect its citizens. These cases have become symbolic of a broader philosophy—projecting strength and resolve rather than relying on prisoner trades or public concessions.
While critics may debate Trump’s tactics on the global stage, the record of recovered Americans stands as a measurable benchmark. For families desperate to see their loved ones return home, rhetoric matters far less than results—and in this realm, the administration is producing results.
