Фото: Partyzanka
Former political prisoner Ales Papkovich was facing transfer from Poland to Lithuania under the Dublin Regulation. On Thursday, a Polish court ruled in a way that allows Papkovich to remain in Poland, the Partyzanka initiative reported.
Papkovich was detained together with his brother Yan in 2022. He was sentenced to two years in a penal colony under an article on participation in actions grossly violating public order and was released in June 2024.
Fearing a new detention after his release, Papkovich left Belarus for Poland on a Lithuanian visa, where his relatives are living. His brother Yan also arrived in Poland after being released in December 2025 as part of U.S.-Belarusian negotiations.
Poland’s Office for Foreigners decided to transfer Papkovich to Lithuania under the Dublin procedure. With the assistance of Partyzanka co-founder Anna Matsiyeuskaya, he appealed the decision in court.
On January 29, the Voivodeship Administrative Court in Warsaw overturned the decision of the Office for Foreigners. The court agreed that there had been serious procedural violations in the case and accepted the arguments related to Papkovich’s individual circumstances. As a result, the former political prisoner will remain in Poland with his relatives.
“This decision will help those whose cases are closed ‘automatically’ without a proper assessment of individual circumstances. We will continue to systematically challenge such decisions and work to ensure fair practice,” Partyzanka said.