Story perspectives

Poland-Belarus Swap Frees Journalist, Priest, Archaeologist

4/28/2026

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Summary

Story summary

Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk said Andrzej Poczobut, a journalist, was freed in a Poland-Belarus swap that also released Carmelite priest Grzegorz Gawel and archaeologist Alexander Butyagin.
U.S. President Donald Trump's envoy John Coale helped negotiate the exchange.
Groups said Poczobut lost 19 kg in prison and had received the 2025 EU Sakharov Prize.
Opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya called him a hero and urged release of 830 political prisoners in Belarus.

History

Historical Context

In 1986 Mikhail Gorbachev freed Soviet dissident Natan Sharansky after nine years in prison, showing diplomatic swaps could rescue political prisoners. Echoing that precedent, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk and U.S. envoy John Coale negotiated a 2024 Poland-Belarus exchange freeing journalist Andrzej Poczobut, priest Grzegorz Gawel and archaeologist Alexander Butyagin, bolstering Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya’s call to free remaining political prisoners.

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Story summary

Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk said Andrzej Poczobut, a journalist, was freed in a Poland-Belarus swap that also released Carmelite priest Grzegorz Gawel and archaeologist Alexander Butyagin.
U.S. President Donald Trump's envoy John Coale helped negotiate the exchange.
Groups said Poczobut lost 19 kg in prison and had received the 2025 EU Sakharov Prize.
Opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya called him a hero and urged release of 830 political prisoners in Belarus.

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