Polish security chief: Poczobut’s name was mentioned during negotiations on prisoner exchange

August 7, Pozirk. The name of journalist Andrzej Poczobut (Andrej Pačobut) “came up” during negotiations on the recent major US-Russia prisoner swap, Jacek Siewiera, head of Poland’s National Security Bureau, has told TVP Info.
Such talks are never easy, he said, without commenting on details. The official pledged to keep up efforts to free Poczobut from the Belarusian prison.
Negotiations with Minsk on the release of the opposition activist, who criticizes the authoritarian government both as a Belarusian and a Pole, should be conducted “on several fronts,” he noted.
Ongoing talks are accompanied by economic and political pressure as well as pressure from third countries, Siewiera stressed.
In February 2023, a Belarusian judge sentenced Poczobut to eight years in prison on charges of inciting hatred and calling for sanctions that harmed the national security of Belarus.
In response, Poland closed the Bobrowniki checkpoint at the shared border with Belarus, linking its reopening to Poczobut’s release.

Warsaw working its way toward release of Poczobut – interior minister
- Economy
- EconomyBelarus discussing direct air link with VenezuelaThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Politics, SecurityBelarus-EU irregular crossings surpass 2024 total by September 16The material is available only to POZIRK+
- SocietyAt least nine Belarusians detained in US immigration casesThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Politics, SecurityLatvia bans night flights near shared borders with Belarus, Russia until October 8The material is available only to POZIRK+
- SocietyNumber of Belarusian expats in Lithuania down 10 percent since year’s startThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Politics, Security
- PoliticsReprisals: rights groups label journalist, 16 others as political prisonersThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Politics
- PoliticsŁukašenka comments on Statkievič’s disappearanceThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- SportŁukašenka changes rules for financing of sports federations, clubsThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Economy, Politics, SecuritySix Belarusian-registered aircraft remain under US sanctionsThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Politics
- Politics, SecurityBelarusian teen released as witness in Warsaw drone caseThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Politics, SecurityBelarusian television broadcasts interview with Russian occupation officialThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Politics, SecurityNausėda: UAV that flew into Lithuania was stray Russian drone targeting UkraineThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Economy, Politics
- EconomyBiełstat: industrial inventories up 36 percent in January-AugustThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Politics
- Politics, Society