On 4 June 2026, Belarusian singer Alexey Khlestov was released after 14 days of administrative arrest. His wife Elena Khlestova announced it in Instagram stories: a video shows the couple in a car listening to the artist’s song “Ya i ty” (“You and I”). Khlestov himself has not yet given any detailed comments — he has said nothing publicly about how he feels or about the circumstances of his detention.

How the release unfolded

Khlestov served his sentence at the Okrestina detention centre in Minsk. On 22 May a court found him guilty under Article 19.1 of the Administrative Code (“petty hooliganism”) and sentenced him to 14 days of arrest.

Elena Khlestova confirmed his release. In Instagram stories she posted a short video: the couple together in a car, with “Ya i ty” playing inside. According to Euroradio, the clip was filmed on the way home after his release.

Open sources do not specify who met the artist at the gates of the detention centre. The only public image after his release shows Khlestov and his wife.

How he feels and what he said

At the time of publication, Khlestov had not recorded a separate statement or given an interview. In the stories he is silent — the video only shows him riding next to his wife while his own song plays. Nothing official has been reported about his physical or emotional state.

The only public comment from those close to him remains Elena’s words from May, when the sentence became known:

“I don’t know where or under what circumstances he was hooliganizing like that. We’ll wait for him to come back as soon as possible. Maybe he’ll tell us something himself. And to everyone who has been supportive — thank you so much.”

After his release, his wife limited herself to a video with no caption — no words of thanks and no description of her husband’s condition.

What happened before the arrest

Khlestov was detained on the evening of 21 May. Elena was the first to write on Threads that her husband had been taken “without explanation” and brought to Okrestina. On the morning of 22 May a pre-recorded video was automatically posted to his account: the artist described a series of “preventive talks” with GUBOPiK, the city police department, and the transport inspectorate, and asked people to share the recording if he was detained.

Before that, Khlestov had given an interview to the YouTube channel OPUSHKA about how, after 2021, he had effectively lost access to the stage and, since 2025, had been working as a taxi driver. A number of observers believe it was the popularity of his in-car videos and the candid interview that may have provoked pressure from the security services.

An account linked to law enforcement offered a different version: allegedly Khlestov “ignored summonses from the traffic police” and “failed to comply with lawful demands.” The same post said: “He will be home after serving his sentence” — a prediction that came true exactly 14 days later.

What comes next

Khlestov is free, but the formal reason for the arrest — “petty hooliganism” — remains undisclosed even to his family. The artist has been on a blacklist of performers since 2023; his right to perform legally in Belarus has not been restored.

It is expected that the singer will tell his own story — Elena hinted at that back in May.