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Trump-Backed Belarus-Poland Swap Frees Journalist Poczobut, Ten Detainees

4/29/2026

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Summary

Story summary

The swap, arranged under U.S. President Donald Trump, was the first Belarus-Poland exchange since 2025.
It freed journalist Andrzej Poczobut and ten detainees, including three Poles, two Moldovans and archaeologist Alexander Butyagin.
U.S. envoy John Coale credited the United States, Poland, Moldova and Romania, while groups noted Poczobut’s heart condition and Sakharov Prize.

History

Historical Context

In 2022 the European Parliament awarded the €50,000 Sakharov Prize to Belarusian activist Ales Bialiatski, his Viasna Centre and journalist Andrzej Poczobut, highlighting Minsk’s crackdown. International pressure from the United States, Poland and Moldova then grew, and a Trump-mediated swap later freed Poczobut and nine other detainees, including three Poles and two Moldovans.

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Story summary

The swap, arranged under U.S. President Donald Trump, was the first Belarus-Poland exchange since 2025.
It freed journalist Andrzej Poczobut and ten detainees, including three Poles, two Moldovans and archaeologist Alexander Butyagin.
U.S. envoy John Coale credited the United States, Poland, Moldova and Romania, while groups noted Poczobut’s heart condition and Sakharov Prize.

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