Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk met with journalist Andrzej Poczobut following his release from a Belarusian prison after over two years of detention on April 28th.
Andrzej Poczobut’s Condition and Future
Donald Tusk stated that Andrzej Poczobut is in “great shape,” with medical examinations confirming his strength and energy. Tusk noted that Poczobut’s wife, Oksana, is concerned about his future, as he is prepared to continue fighting for the rights of Poles.
Tusk emphasized that Poczobut dedicated his life to protecting the interests of Poles living in Belarus, risking his life and freedom in the process, describing him as a “beautiful figure.”
Release and Diplomatic Efforts
The Prime Minister was among the first to welcome Poczobut at the Polish-Belarusian border on Tuesday, April 28th. He characterized the journalist’s release as the culmination of a two-year complex diplomatic process with dramatic twists.
Recognition and Honors
On Saturday, the Presidential Palace announced Andrzej Poczobut’s appointment to the Council for Polonia and Poles Abroad at the President’s Office. A ceremony to present him with the Order of the White Eagle is scheduled for Sunday.
Poczobut was awarded the Order of the White Eagle last year during Independence Day celebrations on November 11th.
Poczobut’s Imprisonment and Advocacy
Andrzej Poczobut collaborated with Polish media, including “Gazeta Wyborcza,” reporting on the situation in Belarus for many years. He faced arrest and trial for critical statements about Belarusian dictator Alexander Lukashenko.
He was detained by the regime on March 25, 2021, and remained imprisoned since then.
Conviction and Prison Conditions
On February 8, 2023, Poczobut was sentenced to eight years in a strict-regime penal colony for “inciting hatred” and “calls for actions against state security.” The Belarusian Supreme Court rejected his appeal. He was held in a penal colony in Novopolotsk, in the north of the country.
Limited Contact and Health Concerns
Throughout most of his detention, Poczobut had almost no contact with the outside world. Limited information reached the public through fragments of letters to his family, shared by his wife. Reports indicated he suffered health problems and significant weight loss while imprisoned.
He was repeatedly placed in solitary confinement or a punishment cell.
International Recognition and Prisoner Exchange
Human rights organizations recognized Poczobut as a political prisoner. Polish authorities demanded his release and the dropping of politically motivated, false charges. 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.
His release occurred on Tuesday, April 28th, as part of a prisoner exchange in a “five for five” formula at the Białowieża-Piererow border crossing.
