The recent prisoner exchange between Western nations and Russia has led to new travel bans and tightened entry rules for several countries, a point highlighted by Małgorzata Paprocka, who leads the KPRP. Her comments focused on Andrzej Poczobut, the journalist imprisoned in Belarus, and her statement underscored that substantial efforts are underway to secure his release.
Paprocka discussed Poczobut’s case on TOK FM, noting his detention in Belarus for political reasons. Reports from media outlets indicated that Andżelika Borys, head of the Union of Poles in Belarus, conveyed to President Andrzej Duda in April that Poczobut had agreed to depart Belarus. The prisoner exchange that occurred in Turkey on August 1 could have opened a path for his release, but the Belarusian regime did not permit it.
The speaker admitted that discussing this topic is challenging due to confidentiality surrounding a great deal of information. She emphasized that the most recent exchange carried the implication of entry bans for multiple countries and a clearly defined status for the involved individuals.
– Paprocka stated.
When asked whether participation in the prisoner exchange might affect Poczobut’s ability to return to Belarus in the future, Paprocka noted that the matter should be considered carefully.
She added that she could not claim certainty, as she did not possess all the necessary knowledge. Still, she posed a hypothetical scenario: would Andrzej Poczobut, known for his activism and journalistic work, consider engaging in such an exchange? The question remained unresolved in her view.
– she concluded.
“There are significant efforts underway.”
The head of the presidential office reiterated remarks from the previous Friday, describing Poczobut’s case as being closely connected to the president’s priorities and asserting that every effort is being made to secure his freedom. She had previously told television audiences that Poczobut does not wish to leave Belarus permanently, preferring the possibility of returning someday.
Paprocka reaffirmed the commitment to pursue a release for Andrzej Poczobut and expressed hope that progress would come soon.
Poczobut is described as a journalist and an activist within the Polish minority in Belarus, who has faced political persecution for years due to critical statements about the Belarusian government. He has been part of a broader political struggle that has included the Belarusian authorities’ actions against members of the Polish community, and his work with the Union of Poles in Belarus, a group that was not recognized by Belarusian authorities and was banned in 2005, is noted as part of his long history of research into the Polish experience in present-day Belarus.
Poczobut’s arrest occurred in March 2021 following a search of his Grodno apartment. Belarusian authorities charged him with incitement to hatred, rehabilitation of Nazism, and actions deemed detrimental to Belarus. In February 2023, he was sentenced to eight years in prison, and in May of the current year, the Supreme Court upheld the eight-year maximum security sentence after rejecting his appeal.
READ MORE: ONLY WITH US. Wąsik on the government’s stance seen as blasphemous toward Poczobut, highlighting perceived diplomatic weaknesses of Poland and the state itself.
PAP