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Polish Deputy Minister of Interior and Administration Marcin Kierwiński considers the return of Andrzej Poczobut to Belarus risky, but respects the decision of the former political prisoner and journalist. He said the Polish side would continue to protect Poles in Belarus in any case.
Andrzej Poczobut was sentenced to eight years in prison in Belarus in 2023. He was released as part of a prisoner exchange in April this year. The journalist also secured the return of his Belarusian passport and assurances that he could return to Belarus. Poczobut has repeatedly said he intends to return to the country in September for the congress of the Union of Poles in Belarus.
Speaking on RMF FM, Marcin Kierwiński noted that Poczobut faces a risk of being imprisoned again in Belarus.
“I respect his personal decision. However, from the perspective of relations with the Belarusian regime, the situation will be more difficult for Poland, as the Belarusian regime will once again be able to use Andrzej Poczobut’s case for its own purposes. In the sense that, of course, as before, we will want Mr. Poczobut to be safe”, he said.
The programme’s host, Tomasz Terlikowski, asked whether it would be considered that the Polish state had no obligations toward Poczobut if he returned to Belarus of his own accord, given the enormous efforts made to secure his release. The deputy minister assured him that Poland would always protect Poles abroad.
“We will always defend the interests of Poles living in Belarus. In our relations with Belarus, we will insist on respect for human and civil rights. But this situation, frankly speaking, carries an enormous risk for Andrzej Poczobut himself. And, of course, it will not make Poland’s relations with the Belarusian regime any easier”, he said.