Andrzej Poczobut, a Polish journalist and activist, was released from Belarusian prison as part of a prisoner exchange and will receive Poland’s highest honor.
Prisoner Exchange Secures Poczobut’s Release
On Tuesday, a “five for five” prisoner exchange took place on the Poland-Belarus border, resulting in the release of three Polish citizens and two Moldovan nationals. Among those freed was Andrzej Poczobut, a journalist and advocate for the Polish minority in Belarus, who had been imprisoned since 2021.
Order of the White Eagle to be Conferred
Andrzej Poczobut will receive the Order of the White Eagle from President Karol Nawrocki during the National Day celebrations on May 3rd at the Royal Castle in Warsaw. He was previously awarded the honor in November 2023.
Recognition of Poczobut’s Steadfastness
The Order of the White Eagle was bestowed upon Poczobut in recognition of his distinguished service to the Polish community in Belarus, particularly his fight for human rights and unwavering stance against emerging totalitarian regimes. President Nawrocki emphasized that the award sends a clear message that Poland will always advocate for its citizens.
Political Imprisonment and International Concern
Poczobut was detained in March 2021 and subsequently sentenced to eight years in a strict-regime penal colony on charges of inciting hatred and actions against state security. He has been recognized as a political prisoner by Belarusian and international human rights organizations.
Long-Standing Advocacy and Reporting
For many years, Poczobut collaborated with “Gazeta Wyborcza,” reporting on the situation in Belarus. He faced arrest and legal proceedings for his critical views on Lukashenko. As an activist with the unrecognized Union of Poles in Belarus, he dedicated himself to researching the history of Poles in the region.
Poland’s Response to Poczobut’s Imprisonment
Following Poczobut’s sentencing in 2023, Poland closed the border crossing in Bobrowniki, stating it would reopen upon the cessation of political persecution in Minsk. The crossing, along with Kuźnica Białostocka, was later reopened.
European Parliament Recognition
In December of last year, Poczobut’s daughter, Jana Poczobut, accepted the Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought 2025 on his behalf at the European Parliament in Strasbourg.
The Order of the White Eagle
The Order of the White Eagle is the highest decoration of the Republic of Poland, established in 1705 and reactivated in 1921. It is awarded for outstanding civil and military merits to both Polish citizens and foreign dignitaries.
