Анджей Почобут. Фото: facebook.com/andrzej.poczobut.9
Former political prisoner and journalist Andrzej Poczobut has updated his Facebook profile photo following his release from a Belarusian penal colony. The picture was taken at a Warsaw hospital, where he is undergoing medical examinations. Within an hour of publication, dozens of comments appeared under the post welcoming the journalist to freedom.
In February 2023, Poczobut was sentenced to eight years in a high-security penal colony. The trial was held behind closed doors. He was found guilty of inciting hatred and calling for sanctions.
On April 28, an exchange took place at the Pererov–Belovezha checkpoint on the Belarusian-Polish border under a 5-for-5 formula. Three Polish and two Moldovan nationals were released by Belarus and Russia. Belarus handed over to Poland journalist Andrzej Poczobut, Carmelite monk Grzegorz Gaweł, and Tomasz Beroza, who had been convicted on espionage charges. Russia handed over two members of Moldova’s special services.
Poland handed over to Russia archaeologist Alexander Butyagin, and to Belarus Belarusian spy Uladzislau Nadzieika. Moldova handed over to Belarus former intelligence officer Alexandru Balan, and to Russia Russian national Nina Popova.
At the border, Andrzej Poczobut was welcomed by Poland’s Prime Minister Donald Tusk. He wrote that the former political prisoner’s first words were a question about the possibility of returning to Belarus.