20 hours ago
Belarus releases 14 people from detention, including two Japanese nationals
Belarus has released 14 people from detention, including two Japanese nationals, as US special envoy for Ukraine Keith Kellogg visited the country.
The Japanese embassy in Belarus said the two were freed on Saturday. It added they are now in neighboring Lithuania and have no health issues.
The embassy said the two Japanese nationals were detained in August 2020 and December 2024, respectively. It said any further personal information will not be revealed.
One of the two is believed to be a man who was sentenced to a 16-year prison term for his involvement in protests over the 2020 Belarusian presidential election.
The other is believed to be a man who was reportedly detained last December on suspicion of spying. He was purportedly filming a bridge over railway tracks in the southeastern Belarusian region of Gomel.
The Japanese embassy has expressed profound gratitude to the US government. It plans to strongly urge Belarus to release as early as possible one more Japanese citizen who is still being detained.
