US EditionBelarus frees prominent journalist Andrzej Poczobut in prisoner swap
The swap released 10 prisoners and followed years of Polish campaigning for Poczobut, whose arrest drew criticism from Europe.
- On Tuesday, officials confirmed prominent journalist Andrzej Poczobut was released from a Belarus prison as part of a 10-prisoner swap with Poland.
- Serving eight years in prison, Poczobut was a correspondent for the influential Polish newspaper Gazeta Wyborcza in a case condemned as politically motivated.
- Trump's special envoy for Belarus, John Coale, confirmed that three Poles and two Moldovans were released as part of the exchange involving 10 total prisoners.
- Hailing the release, Polish Foreign Minister Radek Sikorski described Poczobut as a symbol of the fight for freedom and the effectiveness of the Polish state.
- This exchange follows the recent release of 250 political prisoners in March, marking stronger diplomatic relations between Minsk and the West during Trump's second term.
91 Articles
91 Articles
After five years in prison, the Lukashenko regime in Belarus releases Polish-born journalist Andrzej Poczobut. The US is said to have played a major role in the mediation of the prisoner exchange.
Belarus frees journalist Andrzej Poczobut
New York, April 28, 2026—The Committee to Protect Journalists welcomes the release by Belarus on Tuesday of journalist Andrzej Poczobut, as part of a Polish-Belarusian prisoner exchange involving the United States, Moldova, Romania, Russia, Kazakhstan, and Ukraine. The swap, which included ten prisoners from various countries, took place at the Polish-Belarusian border and was confirmed by Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk, who posted a pictur…
For Polish media Andrzej Poczobut reported from Belarus and was therefore persecuted by the regime there. He was imprisoned since 2021. Now the Sakharov Prize winner was released in the course of an exchange. Palina Milling.
Belarus has released the prominent Polish-Belarusian journalist Andrzej Poczobut as part of a prisoner exchange.
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