Łukašenka claims Poland does not care about Pačobut

January 16, Pozirk. Alaksandar Łukašenka has accused Poland of refusing to negotiate the release of Andrej Pačobut, a journalist and Polish minority activist, who is serving a lengthy prison term after being convicted in what is widely seen as politically-motivated case.
“As for Pačobut, there’s nothing to say,” the state-run media outlets quoted him as saying during a visit to Minsk City Technology Park today. “I tell you frankly, they [Poles] abandoned Pačobut. . . The Poles refused to even talk about Pačobut. As far as I am informed, Pačobut doesn’t want to go there [Poland].”
Łukašenka also reiterated that he was unwilling to stop illegal migrants from Asia and Africa from traveling through Belarus to the European Union as long as Western sanctions remained in place.
“Let them close down all [border crossings]. We don’t go there and we don’t supply anything there. . . .They have imposed sanctions against us and we are not fighting against that migration and the people who want to live there and who go there. . . I will not defend them with the noose around my neck,” he said.
The Polish-Belarusian border security is crucial for Schengen area security and Warsaw does not currently see any indications that it is safe to reopen the border crossings, Polish Interior Minister Tomasz Siemoniak said earlier this week.
The minister blamed Belarus for its refusal to release Pačobut and cooperate in investigating last year’s murder of a Polish soldier.
Poland continues to suspect Belarusian security agencies of organizing and facilitating illegal migration at the border and has no room for action until Belarus demonstrates goodwill, Siemoniak stressed.
Belarus sentenced journalist and Polish minority activist Pačobut to eight years in prison in February 2023. In response, Warsaw closed down the major border crossing, Bobrowniki (Bierastavica), linking its reopening to Pačobut’s release.

Polish interior minister rules out checkpoint reopening
- PoliticsŁukašenka pledges support to Russian official in charge of occupied Kherson regionThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- EconomyIAEA to assess safety of Belarusian nuclear plant operations in 2026The material is available only to POZIRK+
- EconomyCentral bank’s net foreign-currency assets up 8.7 percent since JanuaryThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsCichanoŭskaja calls for Statkievič’s release after reports of new detentionThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Politics, SecurityVilnius says Zapad-2025 backed by information campaignThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- EconomyInflation in Belarus to remain high despite recent slowdown – EDBThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Politics, Security
- Politics
- Politics
- PoliticsCichanoŭskaja: Statkievič's integrity sets example for everyoneThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Politics, SocietyNobel Prize winner describes deportation of pardoned prisoners as tortureThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsJailed dissident attempted suicide – rights groupThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Politics, SocietyCichanoŭskaja discusses support for Belarusians with EU officialsThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Germany news, PoliticsGerman MP pledges to lobby for release of all jailed Belarusian dissidentsThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsLukašenka, his officials complicit in crimes against humanity – UN expertsThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsReprisals: pardoned politician Statkievič may be under arrestThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsUS think tank: Russia, Belarus unlikely to use Zapad-2025 for escalationThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Politics
- Politics
- PoliticsRights activists declare nine political prisonersThe material is available only to POZIRK+