Poland summons Belarusian envoy over reporter’s imprisonment
February 9, BPN. The Polish foreign ministry summoned Alaksandr Časnoŭski, the Belarusian chargé d’affaires, on February 8 over the imprisonment of reporter and Polish minority activist Andrzej Poczobut.
“We do not consider the verdict to be fair,” said Łukasz Jasina, a spokesperson for the ministry, tweeted. “The actions against Andrzej Poczobut and Poland in Belarus are disgraceful. We will continue all legitimate efforts that will lead to his release.”
Poczobut’s eight-year prison sentence is a shameful act and another manifestation of Belarusian authorities’ crackdown on society, said Marcin Przydacz, the Polish president’s international policy advisor. It will not go unnoticed, he added. Poland calls for an immediate end to anti-Polish activities and the release of political prisoners, he wrote on Twitter.
The Committee on Liaison with Poles Abroad at the Polish Sejm urged the government and the EU to impose sanctions against those involved in the persecution of Poczobut and Polish minority activists in Belarus.
The Belarusian Association of Journalists, the European and international federations of journalists also demanded the reporter’s release.
On February 8, a court in Hrodna found Poczobut guilty of inciting hatred and calling for sanctions. He has been in custody since March 2021.
Last fall, Poczobut refused to petition Alaksandr Łukašenka for pardon. The Committee for State Security (KGB) put him on the list of “persons involved in terrorist activities.”
- Economy
- PoliticsCichanoŭskaja asks Albania to use UN to help Belarusian political prisonersThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- EconomyBelarusians net sellers of foreign currency in JanuaryThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- EconomyBelarus’ foreign exchange reserves up 4.6 percent in JanuaryThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsOpposition, Pact of Free Cities agree on self-government training for BelarusiansThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- SocietyOfficials boast expanding cell service coverage in 2024The material is available only to POZIRK+
- Elections, Politics
- EconomyGovernment cuts export duties on selected oil products by 60 percentThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsReprisals: data breach of opposition chat fuels evacuation requestsThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Society
- EconomyRussia’s Lada outsells China's Geely in BelarusThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsHuman rights activists designate 16 as former political prisonersThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsLocal officials to approve appointments of CEOs to private companiesThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Politics
- PoliticsOpposition politician Łatuška meets with Dutch ambassador in WarsawThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsCIS states debate AI regulationsThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Economy
- Economy
- EconomyŁukašenka wants district authorities to have more control over private businessesThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- EconomyUK, Lithuania pull out of double tax treaties with BelarusThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Politics
- Politics
- PoliticsConvicted Belarusian spy wanted in PolandThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsReprisals: opposition initiative’s data leak linked to two arrests in BelarusThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Politics, Security
- EconomyState Investment Program to fund renovation of four highwaysThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- SecurityLithuania reports spike in illegal entries from BelarusThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsInterview with Constitution expert about Belarus’ failure to establish separation of powersThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Society
- Politics, SecurityUkraine, Russia exchange prisoners in BelarusThe material is available only to POZIRK+