Borys denies reports that Pačobut refuses to leave Belarus

August 12, Pozirk. Polish minority activist Andrej Pačobut (Andrzej Poczobut) agreed to leave Belarus if released from prison, Rzeczpospolita reported.
The daily cited Anžalika Borys (Andżelika Borys), a Hrodna-based Polish minority leader who met with the prisoner in April.
“He agreed to leave the country at my request. Andrzej looked very bad. My heart sank,” Borys said.
Last week, Małgorzata Paprocka, head of the Polish President’s Chancellery, said Pačobut “does not want to leave Belarus without being able to return there someday.”
The prisoner’s position needs to be taken “very seriously,” she told TVN24, commenting on efforts to negotiate Pačobut’s release.
Rzeczpospolita also reported that Polish Interior Minister Tomasz Siemoniak denied the August 9 claim by Juryj Vaskrasienski, a Belarusian pro-government activist, that Warsaw had rejected Łukašenka’s “goodwill” proposal to free Pačobut.
According to Siemoniak, Łukašenka has never made such a proposal.
“We have insisted on Pačobut’s release for months. The Belarusian side has never proposed it in any form, either directly or as part of a major international or bilateral swap,” the minister said.
On July 17, Siemoniak said that if Belarus agreed to release Pačobut, stop facilitating illegal migration and help Poland arrest a suspect in the murder of Sgt. Mateusz Sitek, Warsaw would be willing to build relations “more pragmatically.”
In February 2023, the Hrodna Regional Court sentenced Pačobut to eight years in prison after Judge Dźmitryj Bubienčyk found him guilty of inciting hatred and calling for sanctions. Human rights defenders declared Pačobut political prisoner.
According to unconfirmed reports, Pačobut refused to petition Alaksandar Łukašenka for pardon.
In response to Pačobut’s imprisonment, Poland closed the Babrowniki crossing at the border with Belarus.
Also read: Pačobut would like to come back to Belarus if released – Polish official
- PoliticsEU leaders welcome pardon of 14 prisoners, urge release of allThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsŁukašenka’s spokeswoman: release of Cichanoŭski – act of humanismThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsUS diplomat on Minsk visit: President Trump encouraged this tripThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsBelarusian ambassador presents credentials to Leo XIVThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Politics, Society
- Politics
- PoliticsReprisals: police raids target Novaja Biełaruś application’s usersThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Economy, PoliticsBiełavija resists sanctions, plans new long-haul routeThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsCichanoŭskaja thanks Spain for prisoner aidThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- SocietyBelarusian woman detained in Poland for transporting undocumented migrantsThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Economy, Security
- Politics, SecurityDefense minister voices concern about armed conflicts in Ukraine, Middle EastThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Economy, PoliticsLatvia bars eight luxury bikes from entering BelarusThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Economy, SocietyProminent businessman Atroščanka dies of cancerThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Politics, SecurityŁukašenka meets with Russia’s chief investigatorThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Society
- PoliticsInterior ministry brands 27 people as extremistsThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Economy
- Economy, SocietyOfficial says government controls, competition with Russia prevent price hikesThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- EconomyBiełstat: Belarusian companies’ CapEx up 36.4 percent in January-MayThe material is available only to POZIRK+