The U.S. Ambassador to Poland affirmed American dedication to allies as Andrzej Poczobut, a Polish journalist, was released from Belarusian prison after over 1800 days.
U.S. Role in Securing Poczobut’s Release
U.S. Ambassador to Poland, Thomas Rose, emphasized that “America keeps its commitments to its friends and allies” regarding the release of Andrzej Poczobut. He credited the actions of former U.S. President Donald Trump and the collaboration between American and Polish entities as crucial to Poczobut’s freedom.
Rose highlighted the close partnership between the two nations, stating, “Our partners in Poland worked with us hand in hand to achieve his release. We appreciate the incredible work of the Polish special services and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in achieving this goal. That’s how real partners act.”
Polish Officials Express Gratitude
Ambassador Rose thanked Polish President Karol Nawrocki and Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski for their involvement in the process leading to Poczobut’s release. Sikorski described the day as “truly historic.”
Sikorski and Tusk Announce Poczobut’s Return
Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski celebrated Poczobut’s return, stating, “Let us rejoice, we have him! After 1860 days in prison with harsh conditions, our heroic compatriot, a martyr for the cause of freedom, Andrzej Poczobut is in Poland, safe and sound.” He acknowledged the pivotal roles of President Trump, U.S. Special Envoy for Belarus John Coale, and the U.S. State Department.
Sikorski also noted that Poczobut was not the only Polish citizen released, and thanked Polish special services, the Ministry of Justice, the prosecutor’s office, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for their coordinated efforts with American and other international institutions to facilitate the prisoner exchange.
Prisoner Exchange Described as Complex Diplomatic Effort
Prime Minister Donald Tusk announced on April 28th that Belarusian authorities had released Andrzej Poczobut from a penal colony. He characterized the exchange on the Polish-Belarusian border as the culmination of a two-year, complex diplomatic process, praising the work of Polish services, diplomats, and prosecutors, as well as the assistance from American, Romanian, and Moldovan allies.
Nawrocki Credits Trump’s Advocacy
President Karol Nawrocki stated that Andrzej Poczobut is now in Poland, freed by the Lukashenko regime, and praised Poczobut’s dedication to Polish values. He recalled initiating discussions with President Donald Trump in September 2025, urging him to remember Poczobut and raise his case in negotiations with Belarus.
Background on Poczobut’s Arrest and Conviction
Andrzej Poczobut, a long-time collaborator with Polish media, including “Gazeta Wyborcza,” reported on the situation in Belarus. He was arrested by Belarusian authorities in March 2021 and accused of “rehabilitating Nazism.” He was sentenced to eight years in a penal colony with strict conditions in February 2023.
Exchange Confirmed by Belarusian State Agency
Belarusian state news agency BelTA reported that the prisoner exchange on the Belarusian-Polish border, including Poczobut’s release, was the “culmination of a complex and lengthy negotiation process” between the Belarusian KGB and the Polish Intelligence Agency.
The article is being updated.