Łukašenka says can swap jailed journalist for Polish-based opposition members

March 31, BPN. Alaksandr Łukašenka is not ready to free journalist Andrej Pačobut (Andrzej Poczobut) in exchange for the opening of the Bobrowniki border crossing, he said in his annual address to the nation and parliament on March 31.

“Recently, at the level of the Polish deputy minister… they have offered us to exchange Pačobut for a section of the border,” Łukašenka said. “For the Bobrowniki checkpoint. I was shocked when they told me. How can you exchange a human being for a checkpoint? But if you want a swap, let it be. If they want to exchange this Pačobut, in Poland we have Łachuška.” [Prejorative name for opposition member Pavieł Łatuška].

Łukašenka added: “I will never agree to exchange Pačobut for Łachuška alone.” “Send his entire group here, the NAM, his government. Because it was formed for Belarus… And I will return Pačobut to you. I don’t mind.” he said.

Speaking of Anžalika Borys (Andżelika Borys), another suspect in the “Poles’ case,” Łukašenka said: “We are not planning to give Borys to anyone.” “If she wants to be in Poland, let her go to Poland… No one restricts her movement. But she is certainly determined to live in Belarus. She is a Pole, but she is my Pole,” Łukašenka said.

He also commented on the prospect of freeing blogger Siarhiej Cichanoŭski, and on the in absentia sentence to his wife, opposition leader Śviatłana Cichanoŭskaja, whom the “vile supporters of America” have taken “to the USA again.”

“Śviatłana should go home,” Łukašenka said. “Should take her kids and rush back home.” “What was her sentence, 10 or 12 years for illegal activity? But she could do time in the same cell as Siarhiej… She would be sewing some workwear, but be with her man. After all, he is her husband, her spouse.”

“Here is my answer to this question on both the exchange and Cichanoŭskaja. Why does she wander around the USA? We have notified the Poles that we are ready to make the swap by the evening.”

On February 21, Poland blocked traffic for Belarusian lorries at the Kukuryki checkpoint. Interior Minister Mariusz Kamiński made that decision “in connection with the restrictions the Belarusian authorities had imposed on Polish carriers regarding the possibility to cross the border at the Belarusian-Lithuanian and Belarusian-Latvian crossings.”

Problems with cargo traffic on the Polish-Belarusian border have emerged soon after Belarus sentenced journalist Andrej Pačobut, of the embattled Union of Poles, to eight years in prison on charges widely regarded as politically motivated.

On February 10, Poland closed Bobrowniki, one of the two road checkpoints available for travelers. In retaliation, the Belarusian government restricted entry into Belarus for Polish lorries and tractor trucks.