Warsaw confirms Belarus freed Union of Poles leader

April 4, BPN. The Polish foreign ministry has confirmed that Anžalika Borys (Andżelika Borys), the leader of the unofficial Union of Poles in Belarus, has been released.

“The news of the president of the Union of Poles in Belarus being exonerated from false charges is the first good news coming from Minsk in a long time. We believe it to be a token of change of Minsk’s attitude towards Poles in Belarus and its readiness to hold constructive dialogue on bilateral issues,” the foreign ministry said in a statement.

It quickly added that Warsaw continues to call for the release of Polish minority activist Andrzej Poczobut (Andrej Pačobut) and the dismissal of all charges against him. “This issue remains our highest priority,” it said.

Reports of Borys’ release surfaced on April 4.

She had spent one year under house arrest after a year in custody.

The criminal case against her was reportedly terminated “due to the lack of evidence.”

On February 8, reporter Pačobut, another defendant in the Poles’ case, was sentenced to eight years in prison. Authorities convicted him on charges of inciting hatred and calling for sanctions that harmed the national security of Belarus.

In response to the verdict, Poland closed Bobrowniki, one of the two road checkpoints available for travelers. On March 31, Alaksandr Łukašenka said he was not ready to free Pačobut in exchange for the opening of the Bobrowniki border crossing.

“We are not planning to give Borys to anyone,” he added, “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.