The name of the recently released American citizen in Belarus has been revealed.

"Dozhd" reported that a 56-year-old American citizen, Nikolai Shugaev, was held in Belarusian detention centers for 5 months on political charges. The television channel cites information from Shugaev himself. He informed the channel that, in addition to his American citizenship, he also holds Ukrainian citizenship. He had been in Belarus since 2020, having traveled there to be with his family and young son.

According to Shugaev, he was detained on September 12, 2024, following a tip-off. In this context, Nikolai noted that he was subscribed on social media to several media outlets banned in Belarus, including NEXTA Live, Radio Free Europe, and "Belsat." Subsequently, he was accused of spreading extremist materials and was imprisoned for 13 days in the Novopolotsk detention center. This was followed by three additional administrative arrests for new offenses.

During his time in this detention center, which the former inmate described as torturous and where, according to him, he was subjected to the "swallow" torture method, Nikolai Shugaev spent 56 days before being transferred to the KGB detention center in Minsk, where a criminal case was initiated against him for publicly insulting the president, based on a comment he made on Instagram. He spent another three months there.

On February 12, Shugaev was released with the assistance of American authorities. He is currently in San Antonio, Texas, at a medical clinic on a military base, where he is undergoing rehabilitation. During his 5 months of detention, he lost 20 kilograms. The released individual also reported issues with his eyesight. Additionally, as "Dozhd" reported, tests indicated that Shugaev may have tuberculosis, which he could have contracted in detention.

• On February 18, it became known that a group of Nobel laureates appealed to U.S. President Donald Trump and other world leaders, urging them to immediately ensure the release of all political prisoners in Belarus. This is not the first such appeal to Western leaders and the global community. This year, it was published against the backdrop of reports that the Trump administration is negotiating with the authorities in Belarus, which, as The New York Times reported, could result in a large-scale release of political prisoners in exchange for easing the sanctions regime.
• Among those held in Belarusian prisons recognized as political prisoners is former journalist of the Belarusian service of Radio Free Europe, Igor Karney.