{"id":185308,"date":"2026-04-28T14:46:22","date_gmt":"2026-04-28T11:46:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pozirk.online\/en\/news\/185308\/"},"modified":"2026-04-28T18:21:40","modified_gmt":"2026-04-28T15:21:40","slug":"belarus-frees-journalist-andrej-pacobut","status":"publish","type":"articles","link":"https:\/\/pozirk.online\/en\/news\/185308\/","title":{"rendered":"Belarus frees journalist Andrej Pa\u010dobut (Live)"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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\n\n Polish Prime Minsiter Donald Tusk and Andrej Pa\u010dobut\n <\/div>\n \n
\n (Tusk's X page)<\/span>\n <\/div>\n <\/figcaption>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

April 28, Pozirk. <\/em><\/strong>Belarusian state-run media have reported the release and transfer from Belarus to Poland of journalist and Polish minority activist Andrej Pa\u010dobut in a five-for-five exchange at the Belarusian-Polish border.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

18:21<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Poczobut told Gazeta Wyborcza<\/em> that guards woke him up at 3 a.m. to prepare for a transfer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI thought it would be good if I am transferred to the high-security prison in Mahilo\u016d. I was even happy because the conditions are better there than in Navapo\u0142ack. But I was surprised when they told me to take my things.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He said he initially refused to be taken to Poland. \u201cI asked for guarantees that I will be allowed to come back. They brought an official from the presidential administration and phoned the Polish charge d\u2019affaires. I asked him whether I will be able to return to Belarus. He confirmed it. Belarusian officials also confirmed it.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

17:49<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Polish prime minister’s office declined to identify one of those released, describing the person as a Belarusian who cooperated with Poland’s security service.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

17:46<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

US Envoy Coale said he plans to travel to Belarus in two or three weeks, noting that Washington seeks the release of all political prisoners.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

17:18<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

What we know so far:<\/strong> Minsk released and handed over to Poland journalist and Polish minority activist Andrej Pa\u010dobut (Andrzej Poczobut) and Polish monk Grzegorz Gawe\u0142 and in a five-for-five exchange at the Belarusian-Polish border.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In exchange, Poland released Aleksandr Butyagin, a Russian archeologist arrested in Poland at Ukraine’s request over excavations in annexed Crimea, while Moldova released Alexandru B\u0103lan, a former deputy chief of Moldova\u2019s Intelligence and Security Service sentenced to 18 months in prison earlier this month for allegedly leaking secret information relating to Romania to officers of Belarus\u2019 KGB.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

17:10<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

And\u017celika Borys, Belarus-based chairwoman of the unofficial Union of Poles in Belarus, says Pa\u010dobut has not been restricted from returning to Belarus.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

17:06<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

EP President Roberta Metsola on X<\/a>: “Very happy to see @Europarl_EN<\/a> Sakharov Prize laureate Andrzej Poczobut free.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

17:03<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

President Nawrocki: Pa\u010dobut is “the man who proved how strong Polish identity is and his commitment to Polish values, and who paid for it a very high price in the \u0141uka\u0161enka regime’s tough prison.” He invited the journalist to his presidential palace to receive a White Eagle Order, Poland’s top award.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

16:55<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sikorski expressed hope for a reset in relations between Minsk and Warsaw, but stressed that \u0141uka\u0161enka must take the initiative, PAP <\/em>reported.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI don’t want to make empty promises, because we have already had such false dawns,” he said, noting that bilateral relations improved in the past when Belarus held no political prisoners. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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16:48<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Poland released Aleksandr Butyagin, a Russian archeologist arrested in Poland at Ukraine’s request over excavations in annexed Crimea, while Moldova released Alexandru B\u0103lan, a former deputy chief of Moldova\u2019s Intelligence and Security Service sentenced to 18 months in prison earlier this month for allegedly leaking secret information relating to Romania to officers of Belarus\u2019 KGB.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

16:39<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Belarus also freed Polish monk Grzegorz Gawe\u0142 arrested on suspicion of spying for Poland.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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16:16<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Polish Foreign Minister Rados\u0142aw Sikorski and US Special Envoy John Coale held a news conference in Warsaw on the occasion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

16:13<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI am very glad that journalist Andrej Pa\u010dobut, a real hero, has been released from \u0141uka\u0161enka\u2019s prison. But we should not forget that this prison still holds hundreds of political prisoners waiting to be released. Let\u2019s fight for their release until all Belarusian prisoners are free,\u201d said Ale\u015b Bialacki, head of the Viasna Human Rights Center.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

15:53<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Tusk is to give a news conference in Warsaw at 16:30 (local time). Pa\u010dobut may participate. Polish TV will broadcast it live.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

15:50<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

“Andrzej Poczobut, a political prisoner of the \u0141ukaszenka regime, a Knight of the Order of the White Eagle, is free! I thank the President of the United States, Donald Trump, for securing the release of our compatriot. I thank all those who worked toward this success,” said <\/a>Polish President Karol Nawrocki.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

15:48<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

“Deeply grateful to everybody who fought hard for the release of Andrzej Poczobut. An unbreakable hero, he was held hostage by the regime in Belarus for simply telling the truth,” Belarus’ opposition laeader \u015aviat\u0142ana Cichano\u016dskaja said<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

15:45<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The US ambassador to Poland said<\/a> on X:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

America delivers for its friends and allies. Under @POTUS<\/a>\u2019s leadership, and with determined diplomacy led by Special Envoy for Belarus John Coale, Andrzej Poczobut is now free from detention in Belarus and can once again embrace his family. Our partners in Poland worked side by side with us to secure his release. We appreciate the incredible work of the Polish Special Services and Ministry of Foreign Affairs @MSZ_RP<\/a> to get this done. That is what real partners do.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

15:41<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Coale posted<\/a> on X:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Today, in my role as President Trump\u2019s Special Envoy for Belarus, my team and I helped secure the release of three Poles and two Moldovans. This historic outcome was made possible thanks to @POTUS<\/a> Trump\u2019s leadership, @ChrisWelbySmith<\/a> and his team @StateDept<\/a>, and close coordination with several trusted partners. We thank Poland, Moldova, and Romania for their invaluable support in this effort, as well as President Lukashenka\u2019s willingness to pursue constructive engagement with the United States. Under President Trump, America shows up for its allies and delivers diplomatic victories no one else can.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

15:38<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Tusk thanked<\/a> “Moldovan friends” among others for Pa\u010dobut’s release.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

15:34<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\n\n Roman Imielski, deputy editor in chief of Gazeta Wyborcza, has published a picture of Pa\u010dobut, who has lost much weight.\n <\/div>\n \n <\/figcaption>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

15:30<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Belarus\u2019 state media said that the Committee for State Security (KGB) and Poland\u2019s Intelligence Agency engaged in negotiations on Pa\u010dobut\u2019s release since September 2025 on instructions from Alaksandar \u0141uka\u0161enka.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u0141uka\u0161enka gave the green light for the negotiations after appeals \u201cfrom the leaders of certain friendly countries\u201d and was personally involved in the discussions. In all, secret agencies of seven countries were involved in the talks, state media reported without specifying the countries.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The five-for-five exchange resulted in the release of unnamed Belarusian citizens \u201cwho were carrying out especially important tasks in the interests of national security and defense capability of our country,\u201d according to the state media.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Po\u010dobut was released after John Coale, the US special envoy for Belarus, met with Polish President Karol Nawrocki and Foreign Minister Rados\u0142aw Sikorski in Warsaw on April 27.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

14:46<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk has confirmed Pa\u010dobut’s release by posting on X a photo with the journalist at the border and welcoming him in Poland.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

A press conference is expected shortly at the Polish foreign ministry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Pa\u010dobut, a contributor to Gazeta Wyborcza<\/em>, had been in custody since March 2021. In February 2023, the Hrodna Regional Court sentenced him to eight years in prison after Judge D\u017amitryj Bubien\u010dyk found him guilty of inciting hatred and calling for sanctions. Human rights defenders have recognized him as a political prisoner.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Pa\u010dobut was arrested on March 25, 2021, when masked police raided his home in Hrodna. That same day, the Prosecutor General\u2019s Office announced criminal proceedings against him and other individuals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The case was opened under Part Three of Article 130 of the Criminal Code, which penalizes incitement to racial, ethnic, religious, or other social hatred, as well as \u201cthe rehabilitation of Nazism.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe individuals. . . organized and held a number of illegal mass events with the participation of under-18s in Hrodna and other localities in the region since 2018. These events aimed to honor members of anti-Soviet gangs active during and after the [1941\u20131945] Great Patriotic War, who committed robberies, murdered Belarusian civilians, and destroyed property. Their actions were intended to rehabilitate Nazism and justify the genocide of the Belarusian people,\u201d the Prosecutor General\u2019s Office claimed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Later, prosecutors also accused Pa\u010dobut of calling for sanctions. In 2022, he refused to petition Alaksandar \u0141uka\u0161enka for a pardon. The Committee for State Security (KGB) subsequently placed him on its list of \u201cpersons involved in terrorist activities.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Poland\u2019s Senate demands release of journalist Andrej Pa\u010dobut<\/h3>\n
April 22, Pozirk. Poland\u2019s Senate has adopted, without reservations, a resolution demanding the release of journalist Andrzej Poczobut (Andrej Pa\u010dobut) from a Belarusian prison. The vote was timed to coincide with the 5th anniversary of his imprisonment. The resolution calls …<\/div>\n \n